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MEMOIRS 



Deceased Christian Ministers 



brief si^ffrsriige ' 

•© ■ 

OF THE 

■♦/ 

LIVES AND LABORS 



975 Ministers, 



Who Died Between 1793 and 1880. 



By Rev. E. W. HUMPHREYS. 



DAYTON, OHIO : 

Christian Publishing Association. 

Yellow Springs, Ohio: 

E. W. HUMPHREYS. 

1880. 



d 




Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1880, by 

E. W. HUMPHREYS, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C. 



1880. 

REPUBLIC PRINTING CO., 

SPRINGFIELD, OHIO. 



PREFACE. 



In introducing this work to the notice of the brethren, I do 
not intend to offer any apology, though there are doubtless 
many imperfections in the work, and some that might have 
been avoided had I time and means to correct them. When 
I undertook this work, more than twelve years ago, I had no 
clear conception of the extent of the labor it would require. 
The first plan was to write the biographies of a few of our lead- 
ing ministers ; but, in examining the list, it was found very 
hard to decide where to stop. Then extending the plan, so as 
to include more names, the same difficulty was met, as before. 
It was then decided to insert the names of all the min- 
isters that could be heard from, who died in the church work, 
although, by this plan, the notices of each would have to be 
short, to avoid having the work larger than was desirable. 

Having decided on the latter plan, such names as were ascer- 
tained were twice published in the "Herald of Gospel Lib- 
erty," accompanied with a request to the brethren for further in- 
formation. By this, and diligent search through all the peri- 
odicals, letters, and biographical works on hand, or that could be 
borrowed, nearly 1,000 names of deceased ministers have been 
found. There are doubtless hundreds more whose names and 
histories never came to hand. 

The plan first proposed was to insert no names except those 
who remained in the denomination until death, but on further 
consideration, it was found that some among the leaders and 
founders of the church had united with other denominations, 
and some others had their labors partly identified with the 
Freewill Baptists, Adventists, Disciples, and other denomina- 
tions so that it was impossible, in every case, to decide where 
they stood ; it w T as thought best to insert the names of all 
who had been prominent workers, as ministers, in the church, 



iv PREFACE. 

without a strict regard as to what church the most of their 
labors were bestowed during lite. 

I desire to express my sincere thanks to those who have 
done so much to assist in this work. Many persons that I 
never knew before sent me letters, manuscripts, pamphlets, 
and periodicals, which have been of great value to me in 
gathering items, without any fee or reward. Some of the most 
active in the beginning of this work have since died, and their 
names are entered here, in the list of the deceased. 

I desire to say to those who sent long, and often well-pre- 
pared, biographies of their friends, that it would have been a 
pleasure to have inserted the whole, without alteration ; but, 
in keeping with the number of names and t^e size of the vol- 
ume, it was impossible ; so I had to abbreviate. 

It was my intention, until lately, to insert in the beginning 
of the volume, a short history of the church, from its rise in 
1793 to the present time, and items to that effect were gath- 
ered ; but on account of pressure of other business, and the ad- 
vice of friends not to make the volume too large, I decided to 
publish the biographies alone. That, together with the abrevi- 
ating of the notices of the ministers, makes the work somewhat 
smaller than was at first intended. 

This small volume is now sent forth, and hoping that it will 
stimulate our brethren to more diligence in their labor, and 
that it will be a tore-runner of much that will follow of the 
noble deeds of our brethren who are gone, I close a labor that 
has given me much pleasure for many a spare hour, in the last 
few years of my life. I am sure that I have been made better 
and stronger for the future, in fighting over again the noble 
battles of life with these worthy dead. May the same influ- 
ence be exerted on the mind of those that may read these pages. 

E. W. Humphreys, 

June 1, 1880. 



INTRODUCTION. 



As a distinct body, the Christian Church has had an exis- 
tence of only eighty-seven years, the issue that gave it a be- 
ing having begun in Baltimore, Md., in 1793, the leaders 
of the two parties being, James O'Kelly and Francis Asbury. 
From the days of the Apostles, however, there have been peo- 
ple, in all countries, holding views similar, if not identical, to 
those held by the Christian Connection of to-day. Minorites 
always advocate the right of private judgment in the interpre- 
tation of the Bible. The Waldenses, in the mountains of 
Italy, Wickliff, in England, Luther, in Germany, together 
with all reformers, claim this right. Luther said to his oppo- 
nents, "Convince me by the Bible that I am wrong, and I will 
recant;" also, "The Bible is the creed of Protestants." 

The rise of the Christian Church seems to have been acci- 
dental or Providential. Neither O'Kelly, in Virginia, Jones, 
in New England, nor Stone and his co-laborers, in Kentucky, 
intended to organize a distinct denomination. O'Kelly op- 
posed the appointment of bishops, only ; Jones and Smith 
sought to modify the rigid Calvinism and the exclusive close 
communion of the Baptist Church ; and Stone and his co- 
laborers desired to organize a reformed system of Presbyter- 
ianism, only in self-defense — as they were disowned by the old 
body for no other fault than their Christian liberality. 

In tracing the lives of these ministers, we see them imper- 
ceptibly drifting, little by little, farther and farther, away 
from the bodies with which they had been connected, and find- 
ing in each other congenial spirits seeking the same end — liberty 
to worship God, untrammelled by man-made creeds, — and the 
Christian Church took its existence. As is seen in the lives 
of James O'Kelly, William Guiry, Francis Williamson, in the 
South, the controversy on the subject of baptism became bitter. 
While O'Kelly demanded liberty of worship, without a bishop, 
he was not willing to grant the same liberty as to the mode of 
baptism. But, finally, this troublesome controversy was set- 
tled, and peace ensued. From that day to this, many of the 
Southern ministers practcie sprinkling and pouring, for bap- 
tism, and others immersion only ; but there is no dissension. 



vi INTRODUCTION. 

In New Ed gland, where the body emanated from a Baptist 
connection, immersion is the rule, and it is seldom, if ever, that 
we find members of churches in that section that have not 
been immersed — and the rite is generally performed before ad- 
mission into the church ; so that, in New England, there is not 
now, nor ever has been, much disagreement on that subject. In 
tracing the lives of these ministers, however, it will be seen 
that other issues are more rife in that section of the church 
than in others. The New Ed gland mind is much given to 
speculation — inherited, doubtless, from the Pilgrim Fathers, — 
and our denomination is no exception. It is possible, indeed, 
that, on account of our great liberality, we have had more 
than our share. Not to mention the "Farnum," the "Coch- 
ran," the "Niles," and other fauaticisms, it was in this section 
that the "Come-out-ism," the "Millerism," and other specula- 
tions origioated, aDd some of our ministers led in these move- 
ments. It will be observed, in tracing these memoirs, that 
many of our ministers were carried away from their moorings 
with the expectation that the world would end in 1843. 

In the West, while the brethren in that section are more uni- 
form on the subject of immersion for baptism than those in 
the South, yet many continue in the church for life who 
have never been immersed, and some who come from Quaker 
connectiou, who have had no water applied in any way, yet it 
is very seldom that any mode but immersion is practiced by 
any of our ministers in that part of the country. It will be 
observed, also, that the educational standard in the ministry 
has been lower in the West, than in the South, and certainly 
lower than in the East. The early ministers in the church, in 
all sections Avhere it originated, were men, if not of the highest 
attainment in knowledge, yet respectable ; but with the zeal 
awakened in the Cane Ridge revival, the great libeiality of 
the reformers, and the great need of self-sacrificing workers in 
the cause, the motto was, "Let him that can, teach." From 
this grew up a system, at first, of lay preachers ; but finally the 
more successful ones were ordained as pastors in certain locali- 
ties, and sometimes persons with very limited knowledge, as 
well as limited opportunities, were ordained in the same way. 
When conferences were more generally organized, the right of 
ordaining ministers was vested in them by general consent, and 
to some extent, a check was put upon the principle of ordain- 
ing persons disqualified for the work. Yet these, also, leaned 
to the principle of charity, and set apart many who were poorly 



INTRODUCTION. vii 

qualified for public teachers. It is astonishing, however, how 
many of those, with very limited knowledge at the com- 
mencement of their ministry, became giants in intellect in a 
few years, and many of them filled some of the widest spheres 
in the church. 

As is often stated in these sketches, the Christian Church 
had to fight for every inch of ground it gained. It was 
thought by the older sects that this new body, if successful, 
would undermine the very foundation of religion ; thus, any- 
thing to oppose their progress was considered promotive of the 
glory of God, and of the good of society. This opposition 
brought out the combatative element in our speakers, so that, 
for many years, every Christian preacher was a champion in 
debate ; still, with all his tendency to controversy, he never 
lost sight of the main duty — the conversion of sinners. It 
looks strange to us, in these peaceful times, when we see that, 
in the midst of the most bitter debates, frequently, hundreds 
were soundly converted to a holy life. This opposition also 
led our ministers to examine the Scriptures with peculiar 
zeal ; thus, oftentimes, men who not only never attended col- 
leges or theological seminaries, but not even a common school, 
would quote fluently such authors as Mosheim, Clark, Mc- 
Night, and other theologians and historians, and even repeated 
Greek and Hebrew passages — and that correctly — with readi- 
ness. Their tra7eliug companion, the Bible, was marked on 
the margin with all these passages, so that they were ready at 
a moment's warning. Necessity was to them the mother of 
invention. For this purpose, the ''Herald of Gospel Liberty" 
was published by the versatile Elias Smith, as early as 1808, 
the first religious periodical in the world ; for the older denom- 
inations never thought, as yet, of the necessity of such an instru- 
mentality. The "Christian Luminary," "Gospel Palladium," 
"Christian Messenger," and "Gospel Herald" followed soon 
after, all brimful of matter conducive to the growth of the 
church. 

Denominational institutions of learning were suggested very 
early in New England, New York, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, Vir- 
ginia., and Nurth Carolina, and were established at different 
times. In 1844, some of the leading ministers united with 
the Unitarians to establish a theological school at Meadville, 
Penn. Scores of our ministers were educated in that institu- 
tion. But finally our own Biblical School was established at 
Stanford ville, N. Y., and, at the present time, is doing an ex- 



viii INTRODUCTION. 

cellent work. The ministry of the church is becoming more 
and more educated ; yet it is doubtful whether our present 
preachers, or the ministers of any other denomination, can 
show more efficient speakers, in point of talent, learning, elo- 
quence, and devotion, than those of our early ministers who 
were deprived of the advantages of college and seminary edu- 
cation. 

Most of the ministers, whose lives are recorded in this vol- 
ume, were peculiar for self-sacrifice. In the older churches, in 
many places, about the beginning of the present century, the 
ministry was a profession of ease. Salaries were fixed, and the 
labor, with many, was made light for the want of zeal in the 
work. The early Christian ministers seeing this, went to the 
other extreme, and, partaking of Quaker views, cried out 
against a regular salary. Some of them would receive nothing 
at all, not even as a gift. This made the work of preaching, 
whether as a pastor or as an evangelist, exceedingly difficult to 
men in limited circumstances, as it was impossible for a poor 
man to devote much time either to study or travel, without a 
serious loss to his family. Yet hundreds of them, regardless of 
any compensation, went forth and labored as few men did, 
with a view to no other reward than to advocate the principle 
of liberty, and to see sinners converted. Elias Smith, Abner 
Jones, and the early ministers of New England traveled far 
and near, from Maine to Connecticut, and farther on to New 
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and sometimes to Virginia 
and Ohio. The North Carolina and Virginia ministers trav- 
eled through Tennessee, Kentucky, and sometimes returned 
the visits of their northern brethren by visiting New Eng- 
land and the Middle States. The Kentucky brethren ex- 
tended their travels through the entire West, and when the 
cause was started in Ohio, we see our Walter, Long, Ladley, 
and others visiting our brethren in the South and East. The 
"White Pilgrim," a poor, sickly boy, starting out from his 
Virginia home, in the midst of poverty and obscurity, became 
a flame of fire in the church, rousing the multitude to repent- 
ance, south, west, and east, and finally died, triumphantly, 
of the smallpox, in the midst of strangers. In an early day, 
this was a characteristic of Christian ministers generally. The 
homes of many of them were in any place where they could do 
good. As we read these biographies of ministers, in the city 
as well as in the country, in all sections of the land, we find all to 
have been a devoted, zealous, and self-sacrificing class of men. 



MEMOIRS 



-OF- 



DECEASED CHRISTIAN MINISTERS 



Levi Abbot. (1822 — 1851.) — This brother was bom in 
Preble County, O., September, 1822, and died in Wabash 
County, Ind., March 15, 1851, in his twenty-ninth year. He 
was a man of good, native talents; but on account of his loca- 
tion in the far West, his early education was quite limited. 
He was converted, and was baptized by Elder Peter Banta, 
and soon after commenced exercising in public. These exer- 
cises soon led him to a more thorough study of the Bible and 
other good books. Such was his thirst for knowledge, that he 
worked hard during the day and studied equally hard at night ; 
and whenever he had a dollar to spare he laid it out in books ; 
thus, through perseverance and industry, he soon acquired 
considerable knowledge, especially of the Bible. 

About 1845, he married Miss Susan Roberts, daughter of 
Elder Joseph Roberts. Soon after this, the work of the minis- 
try presented itself to his mind with a great responsibility. 
After a short struggle he gave himself entirely to the cause, 
and was ordained January 24, 1849. In the ministry, he was 
zealous and successful, and was counted a good scripturalist. 
His manner was mild and gentle, and he was much beloved 
both by professors and nonprofessors. He died young, with 
the armor on, leaving a sorrowing wife, and children. 

THE ADAMSES. John Adams. (1770— 1858.)— The 
substance of the two following sketches is from the pen of the 
late Elder Levi Purviance. 



10 ADAMS. 

Elder John Adams was born and raised in North Carolina. 
His father was a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church, 
and undertook to educate his son John for the Presbyterian 
ministry; but before his education was completed his health 
failed, and he gave up the idea of the ministry. He married 
Nancy Ireland, and engaged in farming, and teaching school. 
Not long after his marriage, he moved with his wife into Bour- 
bon County, Ky. , and settled on Cane Ridge. He bought land, 
and commenced opening a farm in the dense forests and cane- 
breaks of Kentucky. He worked on his farm in summer, 
taught school in winter, and sometimes taught singing. He 
was very frugal and economical, and with his little means he 
managed to raise his family comfortably. 

He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. 
"When the great revival took place on Cane Ridge in 1801 , under 
the labors of Barton W. Stone and others, he and his wife be- 
came subjects of the revival, and he became a very active 
worker in the church, and was quite useful in carrying on 
meetings. He was gifted in singing, prayer, and exhortation. 

In the year 1802, he sold his possessions in Kentucky, and 
settled on a farm in Wilson County, Tenn. He still continued 
to exercise his gifts in the churches in Tennessee. It is likely 
that he had a license from the Presbytery to exhort. In the 
year 1803, a difficulty took place in the Presbyterian Church 
on account of some of the preachers advancing doctrines con- 
trary to the teachings of the Westminister Confession of Faith. 
Charges were preferred against some, and Barton W r . Stone 
and others seceded, and took their stand on the word of God 
alone. Elder Adams was among the number, and became a 
member among those who acknowledged no name but that of 
"Christian." He became deeply impressed with the import- 
ance of the Christian ministry, and felt as Paul, "W r oe is me 
if I preach not the gospel." He did not long "confer with 
flesh and blood," but soon became "a workman that needeth 
not be ashamed." He labored as an evangelist, traveled 
considerably, and was instrumental in doing much gcod. He 
believed that God heard and answered prayer, and that he 
actually gave his Holy Spirit to them that asked him ; so that 
he had no sympathy with mere ceremonial worship. 

When he was first married, his father gave him a negro boy 
for a slave. While in Tennessee, his mind became much exer- 
cised on the subject of slavery; and by reading and searching 
the Scriptures, and praying to know the truth, he became ful- 



ADAMS. 11 

ly convinced that negro slavery, as practiced in parts of the 
United States, was a great sin. He had his negro recorded 
free at the age of twenty-one. The colored boy afterwards be- 
came a respectable preacher in the African Episcopal Metho- 
dist Church, Elder Adams having given him a good education. 
Elder Adams was conscientiously opposed to slavery, and hav- 
ing been surrounded with it all his life, he saw its contami- 
nating influence on the young and rising generation. So, see- 
ing the difficulty of raising a young family in the midst of such 
degradation, and being determined to seek a purer atmosphere, 
he sold his possessions in Tennessee, and in the year 1816, 
moved into Preble County, O. Here, again, he bought land 
in a dense forest, and commenced operations upon the .beech, 
ash, poplar, and maple timber of Ohio, — this being the third 
farm he had opened. Soon after he came to Ohio two of his 
daughters — both young ladies — died; but he was destined to 
meet with other trials. In a few years, his wife died of con- 
sumption. He afterward married Sarah Purviance, a sister 
of Elder David Purviance. He was fortunate in having two 
of the very best of wives. 

He preached considerably in Ohio and Indiana. He was a 
good practical preacher, his language chaste and appropriate, 
his voice clear and sonorous, and his discourses connected, 
well adapted, and never tedious. He could not be called- a 
Reformation preacher. He seldom dwelt in controversy. He 
was a good business man, useful in conference but not trouble- 
some. He took no pride in long speeches. All denomina- 
tions loved to hear him preach, and spoke well of him. He 
was a man of deep research and of humble but dignified de- 
portment. He was a good English scholar, and had some 
knowledge of the dead languages. For several years before 
he died, he was very deaf; during this period he read a 
great deal. His judgment was good, but he complained of 
failing memory. He was an obliging neighbor, an affection- 
ate husband, and a kind father. He died in 1858, being 
eighty-eight years of age. For several w T eeks before he died, 
his sufferings were great, but his confidence in his God never 
failed. He was always through life considered to be a man of 
a weakly physical constitution. His long life may, in part, 
be attributed to his temperate habits. He rose early, went to 
bed regularly when at home, and drank no spirituous liquors. 

Thomas Adams. (1798— 1831.)— The subject of this sketch 



1 2 AD AMS— ALDERMAN . 

was the son of Major George Adams, who served with distinc- 
tion in the American Revolution. Thomas was born in Mont- 
gomery County, O., in 1798. At the age of sixteen, he em- 
braced religion, and not long after, began to speak in public. 
His manner, at first, was so unattractive to his hearers that 
many discouraged him from preaching ; but Elder George 
Shidler and others held him up, till, by practice and a liberal 
education, which he acquired after his first labors in the minis- 
try, he became a good orator and an attractive speaker. In 
1821, he had a severe attack of fever together with a hemor- 
rhage of the lungs, from which he never fully recovered. 

In May, 1822, he was married to Miss Ann Carnahan, who 
died a few months afterwards — a great shock to the young 
husband. She was buried in the Burlington church-yard, 
where, in a few years, the body of her husband was laid by 
her side. His health failed rapidly after this period. When 
his wife was dying, he could hardly leave his bed to bid her 
farewell. For a while, however, he recovered, and accom- 
plished much as minister and school teacher. He was a hard 
student, doing nothing by halves, but probing every subject to 
the bottom. The name of Thomas Adams stands high with 
the people of Hamilton County, O. , where he spent much of his 
time, not only as an able preacher and a thorough scholar, but 
as- a devoted, humble, and faithful christian man. 

He died in Lsxington, Ky., of consumption, May 8, 1831, 
aged thirty-four years. 

Isam Adkinson. (1787 — 1857.) — At the time of his death, 
Mr. Adkinson belonged to the Tippecanoe (Ind.) Conference. 
Before the organization of the above conference, it is probable 
that he was a member of the Cole Creek (Indiana) Conference, 
as he was a co-laborer with Elders Scott, McKinney, Lowe, 
Dudley, and other old ministers in that conference. His home 
for many years had been in the western part of Indiana. 
When I saw him in 1848, he was a fine-appearing, venerable 
old man, and was highly respected by his brethren. He died 
the conference-year preceding the session of 1857, being not 
far from seventy years of age. 

A. S. Alderman. (1826— 1876.)— Of this brother's early 
life, I have been able to find no account. When he died, in 
1876, he was a man not far from fifty years of age. His home, 
for manv vears, was on Sundav Creek, Perrv Countv, O., He 



ALDERMAN— ALEXANDER, 1 3 

was a member of the Monroe Christian Church, and a lead- 
ing minister of the Eastern Ohio Christian Conference. He 
was both a convert and a co-laborer of Elder John Mc- 
Donald, and their farms were in the same neighborhood. As 
a minister, he stood high with his brethren. He was a good 
speaker, and a zealous worker. Being a farmer, and hav- 
ing a family, and living in a country where ministers' salaries 
were small, he conld not devote the time for acquiring such 
knowledge as he felt was neccessary to a minister of the Gos- 
pel. Nevertheless, he filled a wide place in the church, and 
his death, before the period of old age had weakened his phys- 
ical and mental powers, was a great loss to the church, the 
conference, and the denomination. 

Abeam Aldeidge. (1796 — 1874.) — Elder Aldridge 

was born in the State of Vermont, November 29, 1796. He 
came to Ohio with his parents in 1806, and the family set- 
tled on the Ohio river where Cincinnati now stands. In 1812, 
he moved into Clark County, where he remained till death. 

In 1814, he united with the Christian Church, and in 1817, 
he began his labors as a minister. He joined the Deer 
Creek Christian Conference, and was ordained to the full work 
of the ministry. He was zealous in the work, and was possess- 
ed of considerable talent as a thinker and speaker. Living in 
a country where ministers received but a scant support, he 
studied medicine, and became a practicing physician — which 
profession he pursued through life. Yet he never abandoned 
the ministry, but labored whenever he could in the Master's 
service. 

He died at his home in Clark County, in his seventy-eighth 
year, mourned by all his acquaintances. He left a widow, and 
children. The entire family were zealous workers in the 
Christian Church. 

THE ALEXANDERS. Amos Alexaxdeb. (1781— 
1846.) — This Elder was a native of Georgia. In early life, 
he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and became a local 
preacher in that connexion. He moved to Ohio, and soon 
after joined the Christian Church on Ludlow Creek, in Miami 
County. He became a pastor of the church, and continued in 
that relation for fifteen years. He became a member of the 
Miami Conference. His labors were chiefly local, confined to 
the church of his charge and surrounding churches. He died, 



14 ALEXANDER. 

July 3, 1846, iu triumph, greatly lamented by his acquaint- 
ances and friends. 

Archibald Alexander. ( 1829.) — This brother 

was born and raised in Virginia, and occupied an important 
position in the Christian Church for some twenty or twenty- 
five years before his death ; yet, so few were the facilities for 
printing in those days, and so few of the books and periodicals 
of that time are preserved that all I can find are a few lines in 
Elder David Millard's journal of his trip to Kentucky and Ohio 
in 1834, and part of an obituary in the "Christian Messenger," 
published by Barton W. Stone," March, 1830. 

Mr. Millard, speaking of his visit to Georgetown, O., says: 
"The church of that place was organized about 1810, by Elder 
Archibald Alexander, who was among the early Christian 
preachers in the West. He seceded from the Presbyterian 
Church. He was a learned man, and an able minister. He 
resided on Licking River, in Kentucky, and died, suddenly, 
about three years ago (1830).'' 

The biography in the "Messenger" reads: "Died, recently, 
in Bracken County, Ky., Archibald Alexander. Brother 
Alexander had been a preacher for twenty-five years in the 
Christian Church. He died suddenly and triumphantly." 

It would be a great satisfaction to us of the present day to 
follow these worthies through their wearisome labors; but, 
when this is denied us, it is a consolation to know that their 
record is on high, and that "their works do follow them." 

Thomas Alexander. (1815 — 1838.) — This yoimg man 
was only twenty-three years old when he died. From a retired, 
timid youth of few words but much thought, he became, be- 
fore his death, a person of great prominence. In person, he 
was heavy set, of fresh countenance, and sandy complexion. 
He had a clear, ringing voice, and positive, emphatic utter- 
ance. His writings, of which he has left quite an amount, are 
not only clear and terse, but there is a grasp of thought in his 
ideas uncommon at that early age. He was born in Hart- 
well, Me., converted in Portland under the labors of Elder 
Shaw, and was baptised by him. He also became a member 
of the church in that city in 1830. At the suggestion of his 
pastor, (Elder Shaw,) he visited Amesbury, Mass., and there 
preached his first sermon, in 1835. He was invited to labor 
for the church. He consented, and continued his work there 



ALEXANDER— ALKIRE. 15 

and at Salisbury for two years. He was ordained at the latter 
chinch, December 7, 1836. He accepted a call from the Second 
Christian Church in Lynn, Mass., and commenced his labor 
there on the first Sunday in February, 1837. The church pros- 
pered greatly under his labors, and many souls were converted, 
and added to the church during his short administration. 
All were united on him, and the future looked unusually pros- 
perous. In the midst of his career, he was cut down, greatly 
lamented by his brethren. He was a young man of uncommon 
talents. His mind was quick, his memory retentive, and his 
delivery earnest and easy; and, better than all, he was a man 
of unsullied character. All the New England churches 
mourned over the death of Elder Alexander. 

THE ALKIRES. John Alkire. ( 1830.)— The 

subject of the following sketch was one of the first Christian 
ministers that preached in Pickaway, Madison, and adjoining 
counties in Ohio. He was converted at Cane Ridge, by hear- 
ing the young converts in that great revival speak of the good- 
ness of God. Before that, he was an unbeliever, holding to 
Deistical views. He commenced preaching soon after his con- 
version. 

Elder Long, one of his converts, says: "He was a tall, 
heavy man with sandy complexion. He had a loud, strong- 
voice with somewhat of a slow delivery, but was very pathetic 
and powerful in exhortation, and great reformations followed 
his preaching, wherever he went. His preaching was never 
systematic, but his appeals were directed to the hearts of sin- 
ners." 

He lived not far from Mt. Sterling, Madison County, O., 
where he acquired considerable wealth, for those times. He 
and a co-laborer, Forgus Graham, both farmers and minis- 
ters, were in the habit, in early times, — about 1812, — of hold- 
ing camp-meetings near their own homes, killing their own 
beeves, and feeding the great multitudes that came to hear 
them preach. Hundreds of these were converted under their 
administrations. When they received any pay for their labors, 
it was hardly ever more than a dollar for a three days' meet- 
ing, or twelve dollars a year for "Once a month preaching." 
Such was the self-sacrificing labor of this man of Gocl. With 
all his activity and prominence, however, I cannot find the 
precise date or place of his birth or death. 

Brothor Joseph Bonner, of Jewell, Kans., states that El- 



16 ALKIRE. 

der Alkire moved from his home in Ohio about 1824, to Indi- 
ana or Illinois, and died about 1830, at his home in the West. 

George Alkire. (1782 — 1868.) — I find in the older peri- 
odicals of the church, that the name of George Alkire stands 
high in the record of all traveling preachers, as one of the 
main men in the central part of Ohio. I also find many able 
articles written by him in the "Luminary" as early as 1830. 
In an article of his, published in April, 1832, he states that 
almost fifty years had passed over his head, that he had been 
engaged in the ministry for twenty-five years, and that he 
was ordained twenty years ago. From the above we are able 
to state that George Alkire was born near 1782, commenced 
preaching in 1807, and was ordained in 1812. 

He was tall and slim in person; his pecular fort, as a 
preacher, was his earnestness as a reasoner. He was plain and 
somewhat old-fashioned in his appearance. While he was anx- 
ious for revival and spirituality, he was still more anxious to 
connect with these, order and system in the government of the 
church. In the article referred to in the "Christian Lumin- 
ary," he says: "The Christian Church has advanced, but its 
government has been but little improved ; consequently, the 
church has been in a state of confusion, and many individual 
churches have wasted away; all, I am confident, for want of 
the proper administration of government. In this state of 
affairs, the greater part of the labor of the traveling minister 
is lost." From this Elder Alkire proceeds to show the reme- 
dy ; that is, the appointment of Ruling Elders in each church 
to take the spiritual oversight of the same, and the Deacons 
to confine their labors to the temporal wants of the church, 
leaving the preachers free from all pastoral work. He brings 
forth a great many passages to prove that this was the an- 
cient order, and the article all through is quite ingenious in 
its construction and strong in its proof's. 

From some of his letters in the "Gospel Herald," I find him, 
in 1844, in Pike County, 111., laboring with his usual energy. 
Two of his co-laborers from Ohio, Elders Burbridge and Rob- 
erts, were with him. The two had been quite sick, doubtless 
from the effects of the malaria so common to a new country, 
and the burden of the work fell upon Elder Alkire in his ad- 
vanced years. 

He had an independent mind, a good heart, and a self-sac- 
rificing disposition. He was quite partial to the Presbyterian 



ALKIRE— ALLEN. 17 

system of church government ; but he, as a Bible man, could 
not unite with that body, it being, in his mind, a sectarian one. 
From this, and from his liberal and loving spirit, and from 
his friendly intercourse with the followers of Alexander Camp- 
bell, he was accused by some of his brethren of leaning to- 
wards the latter body ; but he always claimed that he stood 
upon the old ground. It is also stated, that, in his last days, 
he partially embraced the Advent Doctrine of the coming of 
Christ, etc. 

The truth is, Elder Alkire was an honest man, somewhat 
inclined to speculation, and when an idea struck him favora- 
bly he embraced it. He was so free from sectarianism, that 
it might properly be said of him, that he was partially a mem- 
ber of all churches, and of none, as to entire union of faith. 

I am able to find but a meager account of his labors in dis- 
tant Illinois during his old age. Brother Joseph Bonner 
writes that he died in Illinois in 1868, in his eighty-sixth year. 

C. Allemong. ( 1872.) — The home of this brother 

was in the Shenandoah Valley, Va. He was a zealous and 
good man, and was a member of the Valley Virginia Chris- 
tian Conference. He died at an advanced age, in the year 
1872. 

THE ALLENS. Asa Allen. (1797— 1828.)— Elder 
Allen was born in Cambridge, Washington County, N. Y., 
February 16, 1797. His parents moved to Charleston, Mont- 
gomery County, N. Y., in 1800 or 1801. Asa was a good, 
quiet boy, raised to the occupation of a farmer. In 1813, he 
was converted under the preaching of Mrs. Nancy G. Cram, 
baptized by Elder James Wilson, and united with the church 
at Charleston. Soon after his conversion, he began to preach, 
and, in September, 1818, united with the Eastern New York 
Christian Conference. He was ordained soon after, in the 
Northern New York Conference. 

On September 29, 1824, he married Miss Maria Spoor, sis- 
ter of Eider John Spoor, and in 1826 he moved to Cran- 
berry Creek and became the pastor of the church. In 1828, 
he moved to Clarkson, Monroe Comity, N. Y., where, in a few 
weeks, the entire family was taken with a fever. From this, 
all but the Elder recovered. Dropsy followed the fever iu 
his case, and the best medical treatment was of no avail. H^ 
suffered with patience, and asked his friends if he was dying; 



18 ALLEN. 

when answered in the affirmative, he responded with an em- 
phatic "amen." 

He was a young minister of great zeal and energy, and his 
talent as a speaker was counted of a high class. As a man 
he was beloved by all his acquaintances, for his mild and lov- 
ing disposition. 

He died September 22, 1828, aged thirty-one years. 

Ira Allen. (1790 — 1866.) — The following quotation is 
from Professor Ira W. Allen, a son of the deceased. ''Ira 
W. Allen's ancestors on his father's side were of Welsh de- 
scent. His grandfather lived in Weston, fifteen miles from 
Boston ; here Ira's father, John Alien, was born in 1749. He 
moved from Massachusetts, with his wife and two children, to 
Vermont. Ira was born in Reading, Windsor County, Vt., 
on the 20th of May, 1790. On the twenty-second of April, 
1810, one month before he was twenty years of age, Ira sol- 
emnly resolved to give himself to God, to be his alone. 

He entered the ministry in 1816, when about twenty-six 
years old. He was married in Westerfield, Vt., December 15, 
1822, and in January, 1823, removed to Potsdam, N. Y. 
Here he remained until the day of his death, in 1866. Here 
he preached for over fifty years, and many will be the stars in 
the crown of his rejoicing." 

The above gives us the outline of an active, stiring, and use- 
ful life of more than fifty years. Few of our ministers did 
more to advance the cause of the Redeemer than Elder Allen. 
Many of his co-laborers traveled more than he did, for his labors 
were confined to one part of the country — the Northern New 
York Conference. There he" stood as a central figure for more 
than half a century. His work was not altogether confined to 
his own conference nor to the State of New York, however, 
but, through his writings, so highly appreciated by the church 
in his day, he exercised a lasting influence on the denomina- 
tion. His writings, in the periodicals of his day, are the medi- 
ums by wdiich we judge, mostly, of the man. As a leading of- 
ficer in his own conference, he issued many circulars clearly 
setting forth the duties of church members, both as to local 
and general measures. All his articles are short but clear, 
terse, and directly to the point. He had the faculty of enter- 
ing at once into the heart of his subject, the reader, becoming 
interested, was often sorry that the writer did not continue 
lonQ-er. Some of his aticles were continued from one number 



ALLEK. 19 

of a periodical to another ; as, '"Addresses to the young," etc. 

As a writer, Elder Allen excelled most of his co-workers by 
choosing subjects that were practical, and had a direct bearing 
on the issues of the time. His faith in God, in the Scriptures, 
and in the triumph of Christianity was always apparent. His 
tone was cheerful, hopeful, and as one satisfied with his labors, 
however arduous. Doubtless, he had his misgivings, his dis- 
couragements, and his gloomy periods, but he never men- 
tioned these to his readers. His wife, Betsy Allen, as a writer, 
possessed much of the same spirit of trust and hope as her 
husband, showing us that he was blessed with a congenial com- 
panion. 

Our limits will not allow us to insert any of Elder Allen's 
writings in this sketch ; but we are glad to announce that two 
■of his sons (Professor Ira W. Allen, of Chicago, HI., and El- 
der Alden Allen, of Rockland, R. I.,) expect to publish a biog- 
raphy of their rather. It is to be hoped that they will do so 
soon. 

Robert Allex. — This Elder was a Vermont preacher, a 
co-worker with Stevens, Knight, and Rollins some forty years 
ago. We have no dates of any of the leading events of his 
life. Elder Josiah Knight, of Enon, O., says, that his power 
of rousing people to religious activity was so great, that Amos 
Stevens and himself organized eight churches, consisting of 
persons converted under the labors of Elder Allen previous to 
his ordination. Still, he continued local in his labors. To- 
ward the close of life, he embraced the doctrine held by the 
Adventists as to the personal coming of Christ. . 

Samuel P. Allex. (1775 — 1846.") — We have but a short 

account of this servant of God. The first that we gather from 
the periodicals, is that he was converted in Otsego County. 
N. Y., in early life, and is supposed to have been ordained as 
a minister of the Christian Church about the year 1806, the 
first Christian minister ordained in the State of New York. 
Under whose labors he was converted, and what his previous 
life had been, must remain a mystery for the present. The 
fact of his becoming a pioneer minister in a new church which 
was opposed by the older denominations, no less than his own 
language, which was always plain, independent, and bold, 
shows him to have been a man of courage and originality, as 
were all his comrades in the Reformation of that carlv dav. 



20 ALLEN. 

His career as an active worker in the ministry was short, 
though efficient. He was subject to asthma, of which he final- 
ly died. This disease prevented him from active traveling and 
speaking, so we find that after twelve years of devoted minis- 
terial work he had to desist. In 1822, he moved to Fairview, 
Erie County, Penn., where he raised a family of twelve chil- 
dren, acquired some wealth, had a meeting house erected on 
his own farm, and, as Elder Hance, his biographer, says, 
''served his generation with dignity as a citizen and neighbor, 
respected by all w T ho knew him." He was a true friend to the 
cause of religion and humanity. 

Elder Allen wrote but little for any of our periodicals ; 
consequently it is difficult to tell much about his habits and 
manner of address. I find one able letter from him to the 
"Christian Palladium," Vol. I, 1833, in which he says i 
"Though unaccustomed to writing, superannuated, and troubled 
with my old complaint, the asthma, — my infirmities are such 
that I have been unable to preach for many years, — yet I love 
God, his cause, and his people, and often think of former days, 
of health, of friends, and of privileges with a melting heart. 
My work is done. I can not be young again. Many of my 
old associates are gone before me ; and while I linger on these 
mortal shores, my old friends may be assured that my soul 
doth wish Zion well, and for her prosperity and peace I will 
still pray." 

He loved the "Palladium," but had his doubts about the 
phrase ' 'Liberal Christianity." Of it, he says : "For w T e know 
not, by these terms, what is meant; whether Unitarianism, 
Mormonism, Campbellism, or any other ism, or all of them to- 
gether ; or whether it means the pure spirit of the gospel. I 
can not fellowship every thing ; for the apostle says, 'If any 
come unto you and bring not the doctrine of Christ, receive 
him not.'" After quoting several similar passages, he closes 
his letter by saying: "Some such passages, in connexion with 
the whole, form my creed." 

Commenting on the above, Elder Badger, the editor of the 
"Palladium," says: "The above — from a father in the minis- 
try — deserves double interest, as it comes from one who is now 
worn out in the service of his Divine Master. We had the 
pleasure of a personal acquaintance with Mr. Allen in his bet- 
ter days ; he is now but a shadow of what he once was. We 
had not heard from him for a long time, and this letter is like 
a voice from the grave. We look back to the first formation 



ALLEN— ALLERTOK 21 

of a Christian Conference in this state (New York,) in which 
the writer of this note nominated Mr. Allen to preside ; and he 
did so, with honor to himself, and satisfaction to his brethren." 
From this, we see much of the spirit of the man — bold, dar- 
ing, and independent in what he considered truth. In person, 
he was tall and thin — a pioneer no less by nature than by 
habit and education. 

Seth Allen. ( 1830.) — All we can find concerning 

the present subject are the accounts gathered from his fellow 
laborers in Vermont. Before he moved to Stowe, Yt., he had 
attended school for some time in "Wilbraham, Mass. He was 
ordained soon after 1821. By trade, he was a shoemaker, 
which business he followed all his life. In person, he was 
slenderly built, and had a dark complexion. He was a far 
tetter pastor and instructor than a revivalist. He died, very 
happy, about 1830, in the same house that Elder Reuben 
Doges had died in, two years previous. 

Reuben Allertox (1788 — 1832.) — This brother was an 
earnest worker in the vineyard. It does not seem, from an ex- 
amination of our old periodicals, that he wrote much, as I find 
no letters from him. Many speak of him in high terms, and 
mourn his early departure. At the time of his death, he had 
a large field of labor in Putnam and Dutchess counties, 1ST. Y. , 
and in the adjoining coimties in the State of Conneticut. As 
to what his gifts and habits were before conversion, we are un- 
able to say. 

In the ''Gospel Luminary," (S. Y.,) of February 1, 1832, 
Amos Pease says: "Died, at my residence in Putnam Coun- 
ty, jST. Y., on the 28th ult., Elder Reuben Ailerton, aged for- 
ty-four years, pastor of the First Christian Church in South 
East Patterson and Danburry, Conneticut. In the death of 
Elder Ailerton, a wife and six small children have been de- 
prived of a kind husband and an affectionate father, an im- 
portant church of its pastor, and the community of one of its 
most useful citizens." On a visit to Green County, 1>. Y., he 
took a cold which turned into typhus fever, which, in twenty- 
five days, terminated fatally. He died triumphantly, his last 
words being, "I long to depart and be with Christ," The 
writer adds "The large field in which he labored is now left 
destitute of the ministration of a free gospel." 

Six years before Mr. Allerton's death, Elder Badger, speak- 



22 ALLERTON— ANDERSON. 

ing of this field of labor in Putnam and West Chester counties, 
said: "The people are very destitute of preaching, though the 
assemblies are large and respectable. Elder Reuben Allerton, 
who resides in Putnam County, is the only Christian preacher 
in that region. I had an agreeable intercourse with him, and 
found him to be a man of good report among his neighbors. 
He has recently been much engaged, and has done much 
good." 

Elder David Millard, in 1850, in his "Rise of the Christian 
Connexion in the State of New York," says, speaking of Mr. 
Allerton, "One of the number raised in the Freehold church 
now sleeps in death ; viz. , Elder Reuben Allerton. He was a 
good, efficient laborer in the cause. He died in Dutchess (?) 
County a few years ago. His grave, with a neat monument 
set to it, may be found in the burial ground near the Christian 
chapel in Milan." 

THE ALLEYS. Eli8ha, Johnathon and Samuel Al- 
ley. — From some letters received from Indiana, I learn of 
three Christian ministers of the above name who labored in 
the southern part of the state about 1825. It is said, they 
were co-laborers of David Douglas, Joseph Cooper, David Mc- 
Gahy, and others. 

William T. Anderson. (1825— 1855.)— The subject of 
this sketch was a young man, who was cut down in the very 
beginning of his usefulness. He was a member of the Rhode 
Island and Massachusetts Conference. His career, though 
brilliant, was short. 

Elder Albert G. Morton gave the following account of him 
at the time of his death: "William T. Anderson died at Kill- 
ingly, Conn., January 13, 1855, aged twenty-seven years. He 
experienced religion when quite a youth, and consecrated him- 
self to his Master's service for life — a life that was terminated 
at an early date. He commenced preaching about 1851, was 
ordained in May, 1853, but in consequence of failing health 
he was obliged to suspend his ministerial labors in August, 
1854, to resume them no more. Elder Anderson was a bro- 
ther whose intellectual and moral excellence gave unusual 
promise of future usefullness and success, and we can not but 
regard his death as a loss to the church. His labors in the 
ministry were principally bestowed on the Christian Churches 
in South Dartmouth, Mass., and vicinity. In his field of la- 



ANDERSON— ANDREWS. 2 3 

bor, lie won the esteem and secured the affections of such as 
became acquainted with him." 

He died of consumption, and was buried by the side of his 
wife, who had died four years before, in the Fiskeville ceme- 
tery. 

THE ANDREWS. Hugh Andrews was a minister in 
the western part of Ohio at an early day, and assisted at the 
ordination of Elder John Hardy in 1810. 

James Andrews. (1771 — 1845.) — There are but few men 
in any age whose lives have been so devoted to one purpose as 
has that of this veteran. Could the materials be collected, 
his life's history would be a curiosity and an entertainment to 
thousands of readers. His carelessness in dress, his unyielding- 
faith in prayer, and his self-sacrifice and devotion were won- 
derful. The best we can gather concerning his life is a sketch 
written by Elder John Ross, and published in the "Christian 
Palladium," April 1, 1846, five or six months after Andrews' 
death. In it he says : "Of the early history of Elder Andrews, 
or of his family connections we have no knowledge. We be- 
lieve his native place was North Carolina. It was about the 
year 1827 that he first visited the eastern part of the State of 
New York in the character of an evangelist — an itinerant, 
Christian minister. He was about fifty-five years old, and had 
spent twelve or fourteen years in the ministry. During this 
period of ministerial service he had traveled extensively in the 
Western and South-western States. He was a contemporary 
laborer in the Gospel field with Elders Barton W. Stone and 
William Kinkaid, and had formed an acquaintance with most 
of the Christian ministers then in the West. In 1827 or 1828, 
he offered himself for membership in the New York Eastern 
Christian Conference, and on the satisfactory testimonials of 
christian, ministerial character, which he presented from breth- 
ren at the West, he was received as a minister of that body — 
in which communion and fellowship he lived and died. 

It was about the year 1828 that he was married to the wid- 
ow, Phebe Wood, daughter of Elder Steven Whitaker, of Her- 
kimer County, N. Y., and soon after took up his residence 
with the church at Union Mills. Here, and at Cranberry 
Creek he resided for several years. And though he traveled 
much abroad, doing the work of an evangelist, yet he was very 
particular to preach one half of the Sabbaths of the year to 



24 ANDREWS. 

the church where he resided. Some years ago, he moved to 
Livingston County, in Western New York, where he finished 
his mortal career. The only daughter and child of Mrs. An- 
drews by her former husband having married, she was pro- 
vided with a comfortable home with her daughter, while her 
husband — our brother — was permitted, with but few worldly 
cares upon his mind, to pursue the one great object of his life 
— the work of an itinerant minister. 

Of the particular character of the deceased, we hardly know 
how to speak. He was no ordinary or common man. Like 
Kinkaid, he was so little studious of etiquette, that, to the 
stranger, he appeared somewhat eccentric, and not so easy of 
access, or as sociable as most men. But after a mature ac- 
quaintance, Elder Andrews was found to be companionable, 
and often highly interesting in social converse. But if we 
would know the man, we must see him at home. His home 
was in the Bible or in the pulpit. He was always himself, 
never at a loss and never embarrassed. He possessed several 
distinguishing characteristics . 

1st. He was a man of very fervent piety. If we had among 
us a man of prayer, that man was Elder James Andrews. To 
this testimony, many of the readers of this article will bear wit- 
ness, when they recall the numerous times, while visiting at 
their dwellings, they have called him from his knees, in the 
closet, the bed-chamber, the barn, or the grove, to partake of 
his usual meals with the family. 

2nd. He was favored with a very active and retentive mem- 
ory. This manifested itself both on particular and general sub- 
jects. 

3rd. He was emphatically a Bible student. He read much, 
and his Bible was his constant companion. Hence, few men 
possessed so general a knowledge of the Scriptures as he did. 
Where little known, and his name not familiar, he was inquired 
after or refered to as 'that Bible man, that living concordance.' 
And, indeed, the epithet, 'Bible man,' was no misnomer when 
applied to him. For the Bible, through grace, had made him 
what he was, and this was his theme to preach, and song to 
sing. 

4th. His assiduity and faithfulness in the work of the minis- 
try is one of the finest examples delineated among us. He was 
no drone in the hive, no idler in the Lord's vineyard. 

We believe that while in New York he never entered into 
the pastoral relation. To the particular duties of that office he 



ANDREWS. 25 

seemed not to have turned his attention. His whole mind 
seemed absorbed in the one work of preaching the gospel to 
men. For this alone he appeared to live. While in health, 
he was anxious and sought opportunity to preach daily ; and 
two or three sermons a day did not discommode him, a few years 
ago. Though apparently of a slender frame, yet he spoke with 
ease, and could endure abundant ministerial labor. He trav- 
eled on horseback and often, when calling on a friend, he 
would inquire, before alighting, whether it was convenient to 
have meeting or not ; if not, he would choose to seek another 
place where he could labor in the gospel field. We believe he 
was never considered a great revivalist, though warm and pa- 
thetic in his addresses. But his labors were better calculated 
to enlighten the understanding than to affect the passion. Whol- 
ly absorbed with his subject, he preached with about the same 
earnestness to the few or the many. His great strength lay in 
his capability of concentrating and pouring the whole light of 
the Scriptures upon the subject he was discussing. In the 
prosecution of this work, he continued until his last sickness to- 
perform long journeys on horseback, to face storms and w T inds,. 
and preach almost daily." 

On his way home from Charleston Four Corners, N. Y., he 
was taken sick, but reached his home on the Erie Canal on the 
26th day of September, 1845, meeting his wife at the landing. 
He Mas taken home next day on a bed in a carriage. His 
disease was typhoid fever, and no medical remedy was of any 
avail. He died in triumph. While dying, he said, "My 
mind is as calm as a summer morning ; I have no doubts or 
fears." And he manifested a perfect willingness to die in the 
faith that he had preached to others. He died October 5, 1845, 
aged seventy-four years. 

William P. Andrews. (1794 — 1854.) — The first account 
we have of this brother is that he lived in Clark County, O. , 
and attended church at Knob Prairie, about 1813. In that 
year he was married to Catherine Lee, with whom he lived 
happily for many years. After the death of his first wife, he 
married Dorcas Moore, whom he left a widow with six chil- 
dren at the time of his death. 

From Ohio, Elder Andrews moved to Indiana, about 1848, 
and soon began to exercise in public by way of exhortation — - 
in which he succeeded well. In 1849, he was ordained. For 
five years before his death he was a pastor of a Christian 



ANDREWS— ASHLEY. 

Church in Jasper County, 111. On the second Sabbath in De- 
cember, 1853, while at prayers, after kneeling about five min- 
utes he made an effort to rise to his feet but found he could 
not. Afterwards he spoke but few words, and on Monday 
evening following he breathed his last. He died in the tri- 
umph of that religion which he had preached so earnestly to 
others. 

Joseph Anshots. ( 1874.)— The death of this 

minister is recorded in the "Herald," February 21, 1874. He 
was a faithful preacher till disabled by sickness. He died 
near the beginning of 1874. 

THE ASHLEYS. Loami Ashley. (1784— 1855.)— We 
find from an obituary written by Elder William Nealigh, and 
published in the "Gospel Herald" of October 13, 1855, that 
Elder Loami Ashley w T as born in the State of Vermont, Au- 
gust 9, 1784, moved to Ohio in 1817, and in 1819 joined the 
Christian Church at Liberty, Montgomery County, O., under 
the labors of Elder Nathan Worley. He was a deacon of the 
church for many years, but in 1843 he began to preach, and 
joined the Tippecanoe (Indiana) Christian Conference. He 
died in Montgomery County, O., after an illness of four days, 
September 25, 1855, aged seventy-one years. 

William IT. Ashley. (1786 — 1875.)— Captain William 
Ashley, father of Elder William Ashley, was an officer in the 
Revolutionary War, and left the service about three years be- 
fore his son William was born. Captain Ashley and family 
moved to Chenango County, N. Y., when William was quite 
young. While in the State of New York, William was mar- 
ried to Miss Betsy Thompson. During this time, he was en- 
gaged in rafting lumber on the Susquehanna River. Not long 
after his marriage, he moved with his small family to Pitts- 
burg, Pa., and in 1816, moved from that place to Licking 
County, O. In 1817, he moved again — this time to South 
Bloomfield, Morrow County, O., (then Knox County,) where 
he continued till death. 

Hitherto he had never made a profession of religion. About 
this time, Mr. Carr, a Methodist preacher, came to the neigh- 
borhood, and organized a Methodist class. By the request of 
Mr. Ashley and others, James Smith, a Christian minister of 
Mt. Vernon, came to labor in the community. During these 



ASHLEY. 27 

meetings, Mr. Ashley joined the Christian Church. Meetings 
of both denominations were held at his house. 

In 1818, Mr. Ashley began to preach, and soon became 
pastor of the Christian Church in Bloomfield Township, (now 
Sparta,) and continued in this relation untill old age disquali- 
fied him for the work. His wife, who died in 1854, was a 
zealous and efficient helpmate to her husband. They had fiye 
children. 

Elder Ashley's power consisted mainly in deep piety, strong 
faith, and great earnestness as a speaker. He was a Reformer 
in every sense of the term, was opposed to slavery, whisky, 
and secret societies, and was a strong believer in the Christian 
power of healing the sick — yet he was no fanatic. Without 
agreeing with our deceased brother as to the continuance of the 
healing art in the churches of to-day, yet there were many in- 
stances of healing — more than live hundred — recorded by El- 
der Ashley, that are difficult to account for on any other prin- 
ciple. 

Whatever his peculiarities in matters of this kind, Elder 
Ashley was acknowledged, by all who knew him, to be a man 
above the average in natural ability as a preacher and pastor, 
with an honest heart and deep devotion. 

Elisha Ashley. (1796—1865.) — The substance of the 
following is from Elder Ashley himself. It was published in 
the "Christian Banner", Indianapolis, Ind. , June 12, 1861. 
"As I am getting up in years, and do not expect to stay here 
much longer, perhaps it would be interesting to some to have 
a short history of my travels. I was born in Herkimer County, 
N. Y., February 25, 1796. When I was quite small, my ra- 
ther moved to Chenango County, in the same state. When 
five years old, I was taken back to Herkimer County, to live 
with one of my uncles. I lived there six years and then re- 
turned to Chenango. We remained in the latter County till 
1813, when we moved to McKane County, Pa. While here, 
I was married to Sally Baker. In 1817, we moved to Mont- 
gomery County, O. Here I commenced my Christian war- 
fare under the labors of Elder Nathan Worley, and was bap- 
tized by Samuel Rogers. In 1820, I moved to Darke County, 
O., where I commenced my ministerial labors, and, in June, 
1823, was set apart to the work of the ministry by fasting 
and prayer, David Purviance and George Shidler officiating. 

The first thing I came in contact with was Campbellism, 



28 ASHLEY. 

and I had several debates on that subject. The next was the 
Second Advent doctrine and then Mormonisin. I have fought 
through them all and am still bending my course onward and 
upw T ard. 

In the year 1841 and '42, I traveled the bounds of the In- 
diana BlmTton Conference, and broke down at it, I would 
be gone from five to six weeks on every round, preaching from 
fifty to seventy-five times. I moved to Indiana, settled near 
Hagerstown, and had the care of several churches till my 
lungs gave out so that I was unable to preach any more. I 
then moved to Farmland, Randolph County, where I am yet 
(1861). Pray for me that my faith fail not." 

Elder John B. Robertson, an intimate friend and former 
fellow-laborer, speaks in the highest terms of Elder Ashley, of 
his soundness of faith, of his ability as a defender of the Chris- 
tian doctrine, etc. He proceeds to state his success as a pas- 
tor, and his self-sacrificing spirit as an itinerant minister in the 
new regions of Ohio and Indiana. He concludes by saying : 
"Thus he spent thirty-five or forty years of the prime of his 
life and the strength of his days in the gospel field. He had 
a clean record. He lived to a noble purpose, and died in faith 
and triumph. His rest is glorious." 

In the latter years of his life, Elder Ashley moved from 
Farmland to Merom, Lid., where he buried the w T ife of his 
youth. He died in Merom, Lid., June 17, 1865, aged sixty- 
nine years. 

Harry Ashley. (1798— 1841.)— The youngest of the 
four brothers, whose lives are here recorded, was Harry Ash- 
ley. He was a man of great earnestness. For many years af- 
ter his death, he was remembered, in Licking and surrounding 
counties, with more than ordinary regard as one of the most 
efficient ministers in his neighborhood — not in education and 
eloquence, but in deep piety and earnestness as a faithful, self- 
sacrificing man of God. 

Elder James Hayes, his biographer, says : "Elder Harry 
Ashley departed this life at his residence in Appleton, Lick- 
ing County, O., after an illness of twenty-one days. Elder 
Ashley Avas in his forty- third year. He was ordained in 1819, 
since w T hich time he has been traveling to preach the Gospel 
to his fellow men. To the cause of his Master, he devoted 
his life." 

Though somewhat local in his labors, aud in limited circum- 



ASHLEY— ATWOOD. 29 

stances as to worldly possessions, his field of labor was one of 
the most important. In his latter years, he lived near Apple- 
ton, Licking County, O., and was an honored member of the 
Ohio Central Christian Conference. He was a man of great 
energy, and there was no sacrifice too great for him to make 
that he might win souls to Christ. This devotedness to the 
work, doubtless, was one cause of his great success. His name 
is embalmed in the affections of thousands, and his works have 
followed him. 

These four brothers, sons of Captain William Ashley, origi- 
nally from the State of Vermont, were, in many respects, pe- 
culiar. The education of each, as to books, was limited ; yet 
they occupied prominent positions in their different fields of la- 
bor. William and Harry in the central part of Ohio ; Elisha 
in Western Ohio and Eastern Indiana ; and Loami, the old 
est, who entered the ministry late in life, hence not so con- 
spicuous as the other three, in Central Indiana. 

None of them were deficient in natural talent, and, while 
limited in learning, their holy lives, earnest zeal, and self-sac- 
rificing spirit gave them high positions as ministers. William, 
probably the most prominent of the four brothers, had a great 
influence in leading young men into the ministry. But few 
surpassed him in that trait. 

Alford Atwood. (1823 — 1865.) — The parents of Elder 
Atwood were residents of Preble County, O. Elder Atwood 
was born there, December 12, 1823. Six years later, he 
moved with his parents to Vermillion County, 111., where he 
was married to Miss Diadama Bloomfield, in 1847. His edu- 
cation was limited. He joined the Christian Church, and was 
baptized in 1850. He soon became so active a worker in the 
church, that, in 1852, he was ordained by Elders Emely, Wil- 
kins, and Welch. From this till the war of the Rebellion, 
while sustaining himself mostly by his trade as a blacksmith, 
he labored extensively as a minister, in Vermilion and adjoin- 
ing counties. When the war broke out, he joined the 125th 
111. V. Regiment. Brother Masters, a comrade of his in the 
regiment, speaks highly of Elder Atwood's religious zeal dur- 
ing his army life ; how he preached to his comrades as often 
as he could ; and how he was loved by all for his probity. In 
1864, his health failed, and in March, 1865, he was discharged, 
and returned to his home, wife, and children. June 21, 1865, 
he died in the triumph of that faith that he had preached to 



30 ATWOOD— BADGER. 

others. He left a sorrowing wife, three sons, and one daugh- 
ter. 

Charles Ayers. (1798 — 1852.) — In the obituary of this 
brother, Elder Joseph Kingsley states that he died of con- 
sumption, aged fifty-two years ; that he died triumphantly, 
having made all necessary arrangements for his funeral, as 
well as his temporal affairs ; and that he said, "My hope is 
firm and unshaken ; I have no fear of death, — no, not the 
least." 

Elder Ayers, speaking of himself, says : "I was born May 
29, 1798. At the age of fifteen, I was left without a father. 
At the age of nineteen, I embraced the Gospel. After much 
anxiety, I made up my mind to unite with the Christians, be- 
lieving their foundation to be right ; and I have never been 
shaken, but now stand firm, in view of death." 

He united with the Christian Church in 1817, became a 
member of the Northern New York Christian Conference, June 
26, 1834, and was ordained to the work of the Gospel minis- 
try, May 1, 1842. His labors were mostly confined to his own 
vicinity, and especially to the church in Houndsfield, of which 
he was a member. 

Joseph Badger. (1792 — 1852.) — Joseph Badger, the 
son of Peaslee and Lydia (Kelly) Badger, was born at Gilman- 
ton, N. H., August 16, 1792. He was the fourth son in a 
family of nine children — five sons and four daughters. He 
was named after his grandfather, General Joseph Badger. 
When about five years old, he Avas taken to his grandfather's 
residence, a short distance from his father's, where he first 
heard prayer ; and being ignorant of the object, the operation 
was a great mystery to him ; but it was not long till he learned 
to repeat prayers of his own. Though he forgot, in a measure, 
the solemnity awakened by the prayers at his grandfather's, 
yet it returned, and finally resulted in conversion. In accord- 
ance with the custom of the times, it was a long while, many 
years indeed, before he received a clear evidence of his accept- 
ance with God. 

In 1801, his father, with his large family, moved from 
Gilmanton to Compton, Lower Canada, at that time, a howl- 
ing wilderness. In this wild country, with but few settlers, 
the Badgers opened the forest for cultivation ; and here young 
Joseph learned to battle with the difficulties of life, prepara- 



BADGER. 31 

tory to the great work before him. The few Christian people 
in that part of Canada were the Freewill Baptists and Metho- 
dists. For years, young Badger was company for no one, hay- 
ing left the society of fun-loyers, and being unprepared to en- 
ter the society of the religious. During this time, his princi- 
pal religious teacher was Elder Avery Moulton, of whom Mr. 
Badger always spoke in the highest terms. Haying finally 
giyen his heart to God, he was baptized by Elder Moulton, 
September 29, 1812, in the presence of a large number of peo- 
ple. Among these was Mr. Badger's own father, who, though 
he did not oppose his son in this step, yet had but little inter- 
est in the performance. 

Haying giyen his heart to the Lord by conyersion, and hay- 
ing put on Christ by baptism, it was but a short step for him 
to enter fully into the thorough work of the ministry. He was 
not a man to be deterred by difficulties, or he would neyer 
ha ye embraced religion under the circumstances. 

From 1812 to 1815, the time of his ordination, Badger was 
yery actiye. One thing in particular gaye him a boldness that 
many years of ordinary labor would hardly haye giyen him. 
In the beginning of his ministry, the war of 1812, between 
England and the United States, was raging, and things Avere 
in a yery confused state in the province of Canada where his 
family lived. The young preacher was taken up, and tried 
before three drunken 'Squires on the charge of disloyalty to the 
British Crown. He and his companion, a Mr. Bishop, also a 
minister, by a peculiar boldness, came out victorious, haying 
secured the sympathy of the people. 

At this time, one of his colleagues in the ministry was a 
young man by the name of Adams, who joined the Methodist 
Church. Badger stood aloof from all organization, and con- 
tinued, as he considered it, a freeman of Christ. He and his 
friend parted in love and tears. The places where he labored 
during his stay in the Province were Compton, Ascott, West- 
bury, Oxford, Brompton, Ringsey, Shipton, etc. 

In June, 1814, he started on a journey to Gilmanton, X. H., 
preaching every day, wherever he could find an opening ; 
sometimes with one denomination, and sometimes with another, 
but always independent. He had great success in preaching 
among his friends in Xew Hampshire. 

January 19, 1815, he was ordained to the full work of the 
ministry at the residence of Elder Wilson, of Barnstead, N. H. 
The ordination sermon was preached by Elder William Blais- 



32 BADGER, 

dell, and Elders Young, Boody, Shepherd, Wilson, Knowles, 
and Piper assisted in the ordination. On account of his suc- 
cess in the ministry, and his disconnection with any denomina- 
tion, there were several efforts made to have him ordained in 
other connections. The condition required by all others, how- 
ever, was, as Badger states it, that "he should walk on two 
legs — one the Christian and the other the denominational leg." 
He considered his ordination by those brethren to be entirely 
free. 

During his labors in New Hampshire, he was in the habit 
of visiting the house of Captain Anthony Peavy, in Farming- 
ton. Captain Peavy had two sons, John and Edward, who 
became active ministers in the Christian Church. In this 
family, also, Elder Badger found a congenial spirit in the per- 
son of Mary Jane, the daughter of Captain Peavy, to whom he 
was married, July 17, 1816, In October, 1816, he left his 
young wife at her father's, to start on a long tour of the State 
of New York. His labors, during this trip of several months, 
were immense. It was a constant preaching through a new 
country, a new form of worship — for, in that day, the Chris- 
tians were few in the State of New York. Yet such was the 
success of this bold, earnest, and indefatigable man, that we 
find him, in the June following, (1817,) moving his family to 
Pittsford, N. Y. , a central place around which a few churches 
and many preaching places were already established. This 
part of New York was to be Elder Badger's home the rest of 
his life. 

It is not the purpose of this sketch to dwell at length on the 
multifarious labors of Elder Badger in this, his new field of la- 
bor. He had already commenced holding public discussions 
with ministers of different denominations ; this he continued 
through life, both in speaking and writing. In his early minis- 
try, he commenced writing to the different periodicals. This 
work increased on his hands, till his strong constitution was 
broken down by paralysis. It is the opinion of many besides 
the writer, that Elder Badger's writing talent was his greatest 
talent, His labors in public speaking, at funerals, in public 
debates, at general meetings, and as a pastor and missionary 
were immense. Beside the above, he was also engaged ex- 
tensively, as a committee man, in drawing up constitutions 
and by-laws, remonstrances and petitions, and many such 
things as were needed in those times for the new church. 

The following are some of the external changes in the life of 



BADGER. 33 

Elder Badger. January 30, 1820, he lost a little son. April 
following, his wife, Mary Jane, died of consumption, leaving 
one child, a little daughter. To a man of the strong affections 
of Elder Badger, this must have been a heavy stroke. Soon 
after the death of his wife, he closed his house at Mendon, and 
went forth to the field to travel as a missionary. March 21, 
1821, Elder Badger was again married, — this time to Miss 
Eliza Maria Sterling, of Lima, N. Y. , 

In 1822, he attended the general conference of the Chris- 
tian Church, at Greenville, N. Y., and extended his labors to 
Saybrook and Lynne, Conn. In 1823, he made a tour of 
Pennsylvania as far as Lewisburg. In 1824, he spent consid- 
erable time in the service of the state as spiritual counsellor of 
D. D. House, the murderer of Mr. Church. In 1825, he 
made an extensive tour through the West and South, and was 
the means of doing much good in uniting the Eastern and Wes- 
tern wings of the church, In 1826 and '27, he labored with 
the church in Boston, Mass. In 1830, he attended a debate 
in Milford, N. J., between Elder McCalla, of the Presbyter- 
ian, and Elder Lane, of the Christian Church ; and in May, 
1832, he became editor of the "Christian Palladium." He 
continued his connection with the "Palladium" for seven years 
—until 1839. 

In May, 1839, he buried his second son, Joseph, which 
proved a shock so severe to the father that it is doubtful 
whether he ever was the same man again. In 1843, he passed 
through two events that bore heavy on his constitution. The 
death of Elder Seth Marvin, his son-in-law and an intimate 
companion, and the Millerite excitement that was so high dur- 
ing this year. On July 2, 1845, he received a stroke of paraly- 
sis, which, to a great extent, ended his public career ; not 
that he was inactive after this, far from it ; he traveled exten- 
sively, and had the charge of many churches — Conneaut, on 
lake Erie, Fall River, Mass., and many others. He also 
preached some very able sermons, delivered able lectures on 
various subjects, and wrote much for the papers ; yet it was 
done with a borrowed capital. Seven of the last years of his 
life were years of labor, but they were also years of suffering. 
He died May 12, 1852, aged fifty-seven years. 

Much has been written of the life of Elder Badger. All 
agree in giving him the following characteristics. 

1st. Great presence of mind under embarrassments. 

2nd. Concentration of thought upon the subject in hand. 



34 BADGER— BAGLEY. 

All his letters, lectures, sermons, and debates show this trait 
at first sight. Everything that bears on the subject is in read- 
iness, and is applied at the proper time and place. 

3d. Interest in the topic. Few men seem to feel the inter- 
est in the subject on hand as did Elder Badger. 

4th. Great cheerfulness, and hope of success in connection 
with his theme. I do not now remember any single instance 
in which Elder Badger expressed any doubt of the triumph of 
his plans. He wrote much upon all subjects — of death and 
disaster, such as the Miller excitement of 1843 — but he was 
always hopeful. 

I never saw Elder Badger till after his paralytic stroke, in 
1845. Disease was written on his face, his utterance was 
much affected, and he had the appearance of a broken down 
old man ; yet, of all the visitors that came to our school at 
Meadville from 1845 to 1848, none carried the hearts of the 
stndents of Theology in that Institution as did Elder Badger. 
His presence of mind was perfect, his concentration was com- 
plete, his interest in the subject was inexhaustible, and his 
cheerfulness and hope were without a cloud. One of Badger's 
short addresses was talked of and commented upon weeks af- 
ter its delivery, to the great enjoyment of the poor students ; 
and each desired, doubtless, that, when fully developed as 
a speaker and writer, he might become a second Badger. 

Simon Bagley. (1798— 1873.)— Simon B. Bagley, father 
of Elder Simon Bagley, was born in Providence, R. I., in 
1739. His son, Simon, was born in Grafton, N. H., April 
26, 1798, and was brought up, mainly, in Sharon, Vt. He 
was married in Sharon, in 1819, and, in 1825, moved from 
that place, with his family, to Athens County, O. He moved 
from there to Knox County, the same state, in 1829. In 
1838, he moved to West Liberty, Iowa, and in 1844, to Cedar 
County, where he lived on a farm for five years. In 1849, he 
moved to Tipton, the county seat of Cedar County, where he 
remained till death. He died of apoplexy, December 3, 1873. 

He went to Iowa full of zeal for the cause of the Master. 
But few ministers of the Christian Church were in the terri- 
tory in 1838, and Brother Bagley became a strong supporter 
of the work. Soon after his arrival in Iowa, he commenced 
holding meetings, and, about 1840, was ordained by Elders 
Martin Baker and Elisha Beardsly. He assisted in the or- 
ganization of the first Christian Conference in the territory. 



BAGLEY— BAILEY. 35 

From this time, Elder Bagley became one of the leading work- 
ers in the denomination in Iowa. 

Elder Bagley joined the Christian Church in Sharon, Vt.. 
in 1816, under the preaching of Abel Burk, and was baptized 
soon after by Elder Jeremiah Gates. During his entire Chris- 
tian life, since his conversion in Vermont, he was active in the 
cause. Meetings were held in his house in Knox County, O. 
For two years, in Iowa, as a lay brother, he was as zealous as 
during the thirty-three years of his ministry. It was natural 
that, with such zeal in the cause, he should enter the minis- 
try, for his heart was in the work. 

Brother and Sister Bagley raised eight children — six sons 
and two daughters. Two of his sons, William and James, en- 
tered the ministry. William is now an effecient worker in the 
church in Iowa, after serving three years, part of the time as 
Chaplain, in the war of the Rebellion. James, who had also 
studied law, died in Davenport, Iowa, the day before he was 
to have been mustered out of service. 

Elder Bagley, though a man of ordinary talent, and though 
forty-two years old before entering upon the full work of the 
ministry, — and he likely entered into the work then on ac- 
count of the great need of ministerial labor in the field where 
he was placed, — yet, by his prudent course, his peace-loving 
disposition, and his earnestness in the work, eternity alone will 
reveal to us the amount of good he accomplished in this life, 

THE BAILEYS. Joseph Bailey. (1786—1866.)— 
Joseph Bailey was born in the town of Partridgefield, Berk- 
shire County, Mass., September 1, 1786. His parents were 
Calvinistic in their Theology. Joseph was converted in his 
seventeenth year, in Vernon, N. Y., at a prayer meeting, by 
the exhortations and prayers of a pious Methodist sister. 
About a year after this, he moved to New Haven, Oswego 
County, ~N. Y., and, for a season, neglected his religious du- 
ties, and lived in a back-sliden state. 

On the fifth of April, 1807, he was married to Miss Patty 
Tullar, of Mexico, Oswego County, N. Y., with whom he lived 
thirty-nine years, and raised a family of seven children — four 
sons and three daughters. In 1808, the sudden death of an 
intimate friend, who died in an unprepared state, made such 
an impression on the minds of Mr. Bailey and his companion 
that it awakened them to a sense of duty. For a year the} 
lived a religious life out of any church. They finally joined 



m BAILEY. 

the Methodist Church, that being the nearest of all others to 
their views of Christian duty. In 1817, he became acquain- 
ted with the Christian Church at New Haven, and feeling that 
this came the nearest to carrying out his views of gospel order 
of any other, he joined the church, and was baptized by 
Elder Jonathan S. Thompson. From this time he labored in 
public, and in 1818 joined the New York Western Christian 
Conference. 

In February, 1820, he moved to North East, Erie County, 
Penn., and was ordained to the work of an evangelist in the 
town of Mill Creek, in the fall of that year. Soon after this, 
he moved to Pomfret, Chautauqua County, N. Y. , where he 
organized the first Christian Church in that county. He 
lived in Chautauqua County fourteen years, and during that 
time, organized six or seven churches, and assisted in planting 
many others in the adjoining counties. 

In 1834, he moved to Marion, Wayne County, N. Y., where 
he labored for years with great success. From Marion, he 
moved to Arcadia, where he finished his course. 

In 1841, he buried his second son, and, in 1843, his young- 
est daughter. These bereavements he bore with Christian 
fortitude, but by several shocks of paralysis his physical and 
mental energies were prostrated ; after lingering for some 
time, a mere wreck of his former self, he closed his earthly 
career, July 15, 1846, in the sixtieth year of his age. 

From an account of the labors of Brother Bailey, given in 
the periodicals of his day, I find that he was considered en- 
tirely reliable, energetic, self-sacrificing, and consecrated to 
the work of saving souls. His manner of writing was plain 
and pointed. He was not a great writer, but his articles are 
always full of good sense, his subjects are of the practical kind, 
and his articles are short and pithy. 

But few Christian ministers of that time are so frequently 
referred to as is Elder Joseph Bailey. One reason of this is, 
doubtless, that he was a pioneer, and that his work was of a 
lasting kind. To this day, Elder Bailey's name is a house- 
hold word in all the Christian families of Chautauqua County, 
N. Y., and Erie County, Pa. 

George C. Bailey (1790 — 1868.) — This was a brother 
< f the preceding, and, like him, was raised in the Baptist 
Church. In a letter of his in the "Christian Palladium," from 
^•humla, N. Y., April, 1834, speaking of the prospect of the 



BAILEY— BAKER, 37 

Christians in that part, he says : "Brother Barr spends his 
whole time in publishing the glad tidings. Brother Joseph 
Baily has several churches under his care, but he is about to 
leave this place and move to the County of Wayne, N. Y. I 
am not idle in the vineyard. It is about twenty years since 
I left the Baptist Church, and united with a Christian society. 
My soul is engaged in the cause of liberty, and could I see the 
church free, I think I could depart in peace." 

Like his brother, Joseph, he moved early to Western New 
York and Western Pennsylvania, and had charge, as a pastor, 
of various churches in Chatauqua County, N.Y., — such as 
Gerry, Stockton, Miria, and others. 

In the "Herald" of March 6, 1869, I find the following 
items : Elder Bailey was born in Massachusetts in 1790, was 
converted in 1805, commenced preaching in 1828, and was or- 
dained by Elders Whitehead, Fairly, and Chase, June 23, 
1828. He moved to the neighborhood of Arkwright Church, 
Chautauqua County, N. Y,, in 1831. He died of paralysis, 
December 26, 1868. 

John F. Bailey (1789— 1854.)— In the "Christian Pal- 
ladium," September 23, 1854, 1 find a notice, written by Elder 
William Griffith, of the above Brother. It says that he was 
born in the State of New York, about 1789, and died in Jef- 
ferson County, Wis., July 7, 1854. He was converted in 
1819, and soon after commenced preaching. In 1825, he 
moved to Canada in company with Thomas Mclntire. He 
baptized many, among the rest, the late Elder Thomas Henry, 
He continued in Canada about eleven years, when he moved 
to Illinois. Thence, in 1839, he moved to Watertown, Wis., 
where he died, as stated above, full of years and labor. 

THE BAKERS. Joseph Baker. ( 1854)— 

There were but few ministers in his day who exerted more in- 
fluence over a large territory, in a local way, than Joseph Ba- 
ker. He wrote with considerable ability, mostly on doctrinal 
subjects ; but little can be gleaned from these to form a biog- 
raphy. 

Elder Daniel Long says of him : "He was a man of medium 
size, firmly built, dark complexioned, and one of the best ser- 
monizers in the country. His sermons, like his writings, 
were of a doctrinal character. He was an earnest speaker,, 
and a successful revivalist. He was active in conferences, and 



38 BAKER. 

was a leader of men." His home, in his latter days, was near 
Chillicothi, O. He was once a member of the Deer Creek 
Christian Conference ; but, at the time of his death, he was a 
member of the Salt Creek Conference, which was organized 
mostly by himself. 

In the "Christian Palladium," September 1, 1834, he writes, 
I commenced laboring here about fifteen years ago, when the 
people were altogether unacquainted with the doctrines and 
practices of the Christian Church. In that time, about one 
thousand have imited with the people called Christians in this 
region. About seven hundred are united in a few churches 
near this place. Where I live, one year ago the church num- 
bered about thirty members ; now it has over one hundred. 
We erected two meeting-houses this summer ; one is a mile 
and a half east, the other two miles and a half west of my res- 
idence. Both are free for all soceties to worship in. 

We are uniform in faith and practice in the conference to 
which I belong. We have ten ordained, and a number of un- 
ordained preachers, and more than twenty churches." 

Commenting on the above, Elder Badger, the editor, says : 
"The individual that heads this article has been a bold, invin- 
cible, and able advocate of Christian liberty in the West for 
many years. Many have been the privations and hardships 
he has been called to encounter while proclaiming the word of 
life through different sections of Ohio, when the country was 
new, and society, in many places, very much uncultivated. 
He has been involved in many controversies ; but his critical 
knowledge of the Bible, his original, ingenious manner of treat- 
ing his opponent, and his unquestionable piety has, in all cases, 
we believe, given him a decided victory. He is a strong, orig- 
inal man, endowed with the grace of God, and few, in our age, 
have endured more, or been [more successful in advancing 
truth." 

The editor, however, excuses himself from publishing Elder 
Baker's "Forty -three different kinds of Trinitarians," though 
he considered it ingenious and diverting. This "Forty-three 
different kinds of Trinitarians" shows us the peculiarity of the 
man. He was independent, honest, original, and ingenious in 
his investigations of truth. The Bible, to him, was all in all. 
Take that away, and there is no telling how far his inquisitive 
mind would have led him. 

In the latter part of life, he differed slightly from the gener- 
ality of his brethren of the Christian Church, as to the rela- 



BAKER. 39 

tioii of baptism to the remission of sin, he leaning, somewhat, 
in views toward the followers of Alexander Campbell. Such 
was the influence of Joseph Baker on the Salt Creek Confer- 
ence that the members still (1880) continue to hold the very 
tenents of their successful leader. Outsiders, speaking deri- 
sively, say that these brethren swear in the name of Joseph 
Baker 

From a short obituary in the "Gospel Hearld," February 1, 
1855, by James Baker, I find that he died triumphantly, in 
Vinton County, O., November 7, 1854. His age is not given. 

Martin Baker. (1779 — 1849.) — Martin was a brother of 
Joseph Baker, though, as a minister, he was far from equal to 
Joseph in his influence on the public. Elder Simon Bagley 
says of him : "He was an able defender of the Christian doc- 
trine. He labored principally in Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa. 
He died in 1849, aged about seventy years." 

James Baker. — Elder Long says that James Baker, a rela- 
tion of Joseph aud Martin, lived near Clarksburg, O. He 
was a good man, of ordinary talent as a minister, but he never 
traveled much as a preacher. He died at his residence, but I 
am unable to give the precise time. He must have been past 
the middle age. He left a large family of children, most of 
whom became prominent members of his own church. 

James A. Baker. (1807 — 1877.) — Brother James A. 
Baker was born in Greenville, Greene County, (X. Y.,) July 
26, 1807; died in Northern Iowa, July 30, 1877. He was 
converted in 1826, under the labors of Elder John Hollister 
and soon after moved to the West. While living in the State 
of Illinois, he improved his ministerial gifts among the churches 
and was ordained by Elders John Wal worth and John Towner. 
In 1850 he moved to the State of Iowa, and settled at Straw- 
berry Point. 

From this time till death, his labors were constant. Hun- 
dreds, and perhaps thousands, were converted through his 
earnest appeals. He was known and loved through all the 
Christian Churches in Iowa. He was a man of limited edu- 
cation, but his zeal knew no bounds. He was known as the 
"Weeping John." His faithful wife died in 1875. He mar- 
ried asain, but his life was drawing to its close, and his labors 
ending. He was kicked by a horse, and the injury was so 



40 BAKEK. 

severe that he died in four hours. He spoke but few words 
after the accident. 

Like many of our self-made men, Elder Baker made good 
use of what talent he had, consecration and zeal making up, 
in a great measure, for a liberal education. He died, lamented 
by the many churches where he had labored. 

Melyn D. Baker. (1800— 1852.)— This brother, for the 
short period of eleven years, occupied one of the most useful 
positions in the ministry of the Christian Church. He was a 
descendent of an old Presbyterian stock. His father and moth- 
er, Jonathan and Sarah (Mulford) Baker, were members of 
that church, at their home in Essex County, 1ST. J. They 
moved to Ohio in 1802, and after staying a year or two near 
Cincinnati, they moved, in 1805, to Enon, Clark County, ()., 
where, the next year, 1806, they joined the Christian Church 
at Knob Prairie, in that County. 

Melyn was but two years old when his parents left New 
Jersey, and five years old when they settled in Clark County, 
O. The boy's educational facilities w T ere poor, but were im- 
proved as much as could be exj:>ected. In 1817, he had a 
severe attack of rheumatism that made him lame for life ; 
during this period, also, he was converted, and three years later, 
he made a public confession of religion and joined the church 
at Knob Prairie. The mode of procedure in joining church 
in those days was, the candidate was to read a portion of 
Scripture, the Creed, and make such remarks as were prompted 
by the state of his mind. Brother Baker, in his remarks, 
among other things, said: "I've listed in the holy war," where- 
upon old Judge Layton cried out "Amen to that," "Thank 
God for that." From this time on, for twenty-one years, Broth- 
er Baker continued an active, zealous, and efficient lay brother 
in the church. In 1822, Brother Baker married Miss Marga- 
ret McClure, with whom he lived happily till February 1825, 
when she died ; and August of the same year he buried a little 
daughter, the only child of this union, which made the world 
dark and dreary to the grief-stricken father and husband. 

In May, 1826, he was married to-Miss Mariah Lane, half sis- 
ter of Elder William Lane, of Burlington, Ohio, with whom 
he lived happily to the end of his mortal career, and who had 
mourned the loss of an affectionate husband for more than 
twenty years before she joined him above. 

During the twenty-one years, mentioned above, Brother 



BAKER. 41 

Baker felt many times, as if the Lord had a more extensive 
field for him to occupy than a member in a local church. His 
zeal prompted him to a wider sphere, but a lack of education, 
bashfulness, and timidity kept him back. In September, 1841, 
however, he was received a member of the Miami Conference,. 
and from that time to the close of his life, he was constantly 
at work, an active Watchman on the walls of Zion. In April, 
1842, he was ordained to the full work of the^ministry, at the 
Knob Prairie Church, the following ministers being present, 
Elders I. N. Walters, D. F. Ladley, L. Purviance, and Amos 
Stevens 

The following tabular summary of his labors for ten years, 
found in his biography written by Elder John Ellis, shows the 
precision and system of the man. 
1st year, traveled 2300 mis., preached 170 times, reed. $ 70.00 



2nd" 


3125 " 


211 " 


" $150.00 


3rd" " 2885 " 


185 " 


" $171.00 


4th " 


2050 " 


130 " 


" $191.00 


5th" 


2225 " 


120 " 


" $142.00 


6th" " 2310 " 


120 " 


" $131.00 


7th " 


2125 " 


112 " 


" $127.00 


8th" 


1975 " 


135 " 


" $171.00 


9th" 


3725 " 


157 " 


" $205.96 


10th" 


3805 " 


130 " 


" $147.37 



The preceding table does not speak of the ministry as a very 
remunerative employment ; and yet it is doubtful whether any 
other persons of that day enjoyed life more than Elder Baker. 
Those of us who met him in our public gatherings, and saw 
with what promptness he responded to every call of the denom- 
ination, and knowing that, as one of our leading men, he wa& 
preaching to some of our most popular churches, little thought 
that his average income for all his traveling and labor was but 
a trifle over one hundred and fifty dollars per year. 

Elder Baker's position in a central part of the Miami Con- 
ference in the neighborhood of our publishing department in 
the West, his intimacy with the active men of the church — 
as Walters, Ladly, Williamson, etc., — together with his entire 
reliability and zeal in the cause called out all the energy of the 
man at once. He was one of the most active men in the pub- 
lishing department of the church, and a leader in our mission- 
ary operations ; and whatever position he occupied he filled to 
the satisfaction oi all his brethren. 

Elder Baker lived in one place during all his ministerial life,. 



42 BAKER. 

and traveled to distant places. As we see in his journal, he 
preached regularly for some time in Southern Ohio, especially 
in Ripley, where he was the principal ministerial agent in build- 
ing that fine house ot worship — one of the best in the State of 
Ohio at the time it was built. These churches in Soithern 
Ohio must have been nearly one hundred miles from his home. 
He preached, also, for several years for the West Liberty and 
Glady Creek churches, in Logan County, O., thirty or forty 
miles from his home. 

In regard to the peculiarities of Elder Baker, he had as few 
as almost any of his brethren. He was cheerful, a peace-lover 
and a peace-maker. Naturally, he had a strong mind, not as 
a genius to grasp a problem at one glance, but rather he pos- 
sessed a vein of strong common sense that enabled him to 
grasp the pith of his subject. His sermons, therefore, were in- 
structive, and those who heard him once were desirous of hear- 
ing him again. This gave him a strong hold on his hearers. 
This affection for the preacher increased ten-fold when they 
formed the acquaintance of the man. They felt not only that 
the doctrine he preached was true, sound, and useful, but, 
furthermore, that the man himself was an embodiment of what 
he preached. 

Elder Baker died at the age of fifty-two, in the very midst 
of his usefulness. Lamentation and mourning were felt 
through all the churches in Ohio when the news of his death 
reached them through the "Gospel Herald." It was a shock 
to all the brotherhood, for his value had but lately been found 
out, and w T e had looked for him to grow in influence for more 
than tw T enty years in the future. His death was very trium- 
phant. His last expression, "this is the happiest hour of life," 
was repeated every where, and all felt that such a triumphant 
death was some compensation for our great loss. 

Luther Baker. (1770 — 1857.) — This veteran was very 
noted in his day as an able, zealous, and reliable man, with a 
vein of mirth and eccentricity running through all his actions. 

Elder Moses Howe says of him : "In person, he was over six 
feet in stature, rather slim, gentlemanly looking, sociable in 
his intercourse, and a good preacher of the old school type. 
He was an efficient revivalist and a great Scripturalist. He 
came over from the Baptists, and was a pastor of the Second 
Christian Church in New Bedford from 1832 to 1835." 

An obituary in the "Herald of Gospel Liberty," April 30, 



BAKER— BANISTER. 43 

1857, says : "He. was pastor of a Baptist Church in Warren, 
R. I., for some years, and afterwards became a pastor of a 
church of the same denomination, in Providence, R. I., with 
which he continued untill 1822, when, through a controversy 
going on at that time in New England, he became convinced 
that the doctrine of the Trinity, as held by his church, was er- 
ronneous. He left the Baptist and joined the Christian Church, 
and took charge of the Christian Church in New Bedford." 

In 1836, at his own request, he gave up the charge of the 
Second Christian Church in New Bedford. From that time 
till 1857, the year he died, though not connected with any 
church as a regular pastor, yet he was considered by all a very 
useful man, filling many important places, wherever his labor 
was needed, and he was always considered a safe counselor. 
Between 1836 and 1857, he was a representative to the Mas- 
sachusetts Legislature for several sessions. 

Few men were more known and respected than Elder Baker, 
and his witty sayings were repeated very generally among the 
ministers. Elder Baker had a clear head and a quick percep- 
tion ; hence his striking remarks were treasured up and re- 
spected by his friends. 

Elder Baker was a great friend of education, and an advo- 
cate for the support of the ministry. A person who cared for 
neither said to him, "I preach for nothing." "It is just worth 
it," said Elder Baker. Another said, "I can prepare a ser- 
mon in half a day." "And make nothing of it," said the El- 
der. Hundreds of such sayings are quoted among his friends 
to this day. 

Elder Baker was a man of great originality as well as inde- 
pendence of mind — one of the Daniel Hix type of men. As we 
see from his age, his early character was formed in the rough 
days of the Revolutionary War. When his religious nature 
was developed, he naturally drifted to the Baptists — the most 
Democratic church in New England, in that day. But when 
the Baptists began to urge such doctrines as, "Unconditional 
Election" and "Trinity" on its members, then such men as 
Hix and Baker were displeased. It was natural that they 
should seek a more congenial people — a people as full of zeal 
as the Baptists but who granted to all the right of private 
judgment. These they found among the early Christians of 
New T England. 

Isaac Baxistee. (1794 — 1852.) — From a sister, a daugh- 



44 BANISTER— BANTA. 

ter, and a co-worker (the late Elder Starkey) of Elder Banis- 
ter I have the following : Elder Banister was born in Royal- 
ton, Vt., March 10, 1794. When he was eleven years old, 
his father sold his farm in Royalton, and moved to Bethel. 
When he was twenty years old, his father gave him his time, 
and, with a view of making money speedily, he worked very 
hard, by which he lost his health. His disease was inflama- 
tion of the lungs, from which he never fully recovered. 

In the winter of 1815, he taught school in Turnbridge, Vt., 
and, June 5, 1816, he commenced the study of mediciue with 
Dr. John Edson. He made rapid progress in his studies, and 
his earthlv prospects were brightening. In the midst of all, 
however, his mind became troubled on the subject of religion. 
In 1818, a great revival was in progress in Bethel and Ran- 
dolph, Vt., and among many others, Isaac was converted, and 
was once more happy. As usual in New England, the light 
of truth came slowly, so in the case of Isaac. After strug- 
gling for three years with his conscience and God, in Novem- 
ber, 1818, he went to meeting. The pressure was so great that 
he had to speak or die. He spoke and the burden of sin was 
removed. 

In June, 1819, he was ordained, and, in the same year, was 
married to Mrs. Aldrich, a widow lady. She was a woman 
of considerable talent as a writer, and one of deep and fervent 
piety. After his marriage, he lived three years in Plymouth, 
Vt., traveling and preaching in the northern part of the state. 

He finally settled in Randolph, where he buried his two old- 
est children, a son and daughter. In 1827, he moved to South 
Edmunds, St. Lawrence County, N. Y. In 1837, he lost his 
first wife, he and four children being left in great sorrow. He 
married again, a lady by the name of Melinda Ford, of whom 
he had two children, and with whom he lived happily to the 
end of his days. He died peacefully, January 15, 1852. 

Elder Banister was a faithful worker in the church. His 
education was quite good but his health was often poor. That 
he was a conscientious man the fact of his leaving the lucrative 
profession of medicine for the self-sacrificing and laborious 
work of the ministry is a sufficient proof. 

Isaac Banta. (1810— 1847.)— Elder Isaac N. Walter, in 
a short biography of this brother, published in the "Herald, n 
Vol. IV, page 367, states that he lived, since 1816, in Preble 
County, O., that he was converted in 1840, that he was or- 



BANTA— BARBER, 45 

•darned February 20, 1843, that he buried his wife October 1 , 
1845, and that he died, after a short illness, December 16, 
1847. 

He was a zealous and very energetic man, efficient in revi- 
vals. He labored, mostly, in Preble and adjoining counties, 
during his short ministerial career. He was highly spoken of 
as an useful, good man. 

Hallet Barber. (1798 — 1849.) — When the news of the 
death of this veteran reached the Christian Churches through 
Ohio and Indiana there was a shock such as is seldom felt, even 
at the death of a good minister. One reason of this, beside 
the attachment to the man, was that his field of labor, for the 
fifteen or twenty years previous, had been so extensive as to 
reach from the central counties of Ohio to the Wabash River, 
in Indiana. In hundreds of log cabins through that newly set- 
tled country, the name of Barber had a charm to the inmates 
that few others possessed. 

Hallet Barber was born in the State of New York in 1798, 
was married in Deleware County, O., in 1818, entered the 
ministry in 1829, and died of the cholera in 1849. 

The substance of the following is from the pen of one of his 
intimate friends, a fellow-laborer during sixteen years through 
the wilds of Indiana and Ohio, Elder J. B. Robertson : "I 
first met Elder Barber at the brick church on the Derby Plains, 
Union County, O., in 1833. The meeting was conducted by 
Elders Jeremiah Fuson, the pastor, Hallet Barber, Edward 
Lewis, and Joseph Thomas, the White Pilgrim. The latter 
two soon went East only to find graves in the land of strangers 
— Lewis in Pennsylvania, Thomas in New Jersey. During this 
meeting, Elder Barber, as was his custom with young men in- 
clined to the ministry, urged me to the work. His home at 
this time was in the central part of Ohio. He moved from 
there to Darke County, O. , where he cleared the third piece of 
land that he had cleared since he began to preach. From his 
home in Ohio, Elder Barber made several trips to Indiana, 
and organized a number of churches in Ohio and Indiana, and 
among them the church at Marion, the county seat of Grant 
County, Ind. From these sprang the organization of the Bluff- 
ton Christian Conference. 

We became traveling companions in the wilderness. We 
traveled together constantly for eight or ten years. We were 
often out three months at a time, without resting, having meet- 



46 BARBER 

ings every day or night, or both, during the whole time. We 
had many soul-stirring revivals and communions where we 
never spent one Sunday with the people. The Elder was the 
most thorough-going and persevering man I ever knew. He 
never stopped for any thing that could be encountered by any 
human being. I have knoAvn him to swim his horse across a 
river in cold weather, and, with his clothes frozen stiff upon 
his person, he would preach and attend to all the duties of the 
occasion before having his clothes dried. It was never too hot 
or too cold, nor was the water ever too high, or the snow too 
deep, or the season too sickly for him to reach his appoint- 
ments. 

At one time, which I well remember, we traveled from his 
home in Darke County, O., to Marion, Grant County, Ind., 
in a zigzag course of some sixty miles. The ponds were filled 
with water and frozen on top, so that a great part of the way 
we had to carry a club to break the ice before the horses, the 
water being quite deep. At one place, Avhere there was an is- 
land, we found a foot bridge to the mainland, but no way for 
the horses. We carried our saddles and drove our horses in. 
The poor beasts made their way through mud, ice, and water,, 
and stood trembling and bleeding on the bank, on the other 
side. When we came up to them, the Elder observed, 'This 
would be a sin for any thing else but to save perishing sin- 
ners.' 

Another time, on a long ride, he became so exhausted that I 
helped him from his horse, and laid him in the shade of a tree, 
as I expected, to die. He spoke very pathetically of his hav- 
ing spent so much of the prime of his life from home, preach- 
ing and laboring for thousands of families who lived in afflu- 
ence. Then, referring to the destitute condition of his own 
family (which I knew full well) in such terms that now, after 
the lapse of more than twenty-five years, I can hardly refrain 
from shedding tears upon the paper before me, as I remember 
his words. He spoke of his wife, laboring and economizing to 
save herself and children from want — which impressed my 
mind that ministers' wives will share with their devoted hus- 
bands the crown of unfading glory. 

Opposition always brought out his greatest strength. The 
doctrine of the Trinity and baptism for the remission of sins, 
as preached in his field, brought out his giant mind to com- 
bat them. In one place, the infidels boasted that they would 
hold the ground against him ; but, to their consternation, ref- 



BARBER— BAENS. 4? 

orruation broke out, through his preaching, so that the infidels 
were left almost alone." 

Elder Barber was a believer in organization and the support 
of the ministry, and system throughout the work ; but, as El- 
der Robertson observes, he would never stop traveling because 
he received no pay. Elder Robertson relates one instance of 
poverty and relief, looking like a miracle. After traveling 
for two months and a half in the northern part of Indiana, in 
a thinly settled country, they stopped all night at a stranger's, 
who charged them so much for lodgings that it took all the 
two ministers had to pay the bill. They congratulated each 
other that they had enough, and that their bibles and hymn 
books were not taken. In a short time, however, Elder Bar- 
ber found a piece of money in the road about the amount he 
had paid, and observed to his companion that a little distance 
ahead they would find the amount of Elder Robertson's bill ; 
and, sure enough, in a short distance another sum was found. 

There are many instances of Elder Barber's success, like 
most pioneers, in turning the rough people with whom he had 
to deal. While baptizing in the Salamony River, a lady, sit- 
ting on a horse, was observed, weeping through the whole cer- 
emony. When the audience was dismissed, the Elder asked 
of a neighbor the cause. The answer was, that the woman 
wanted to be baptized, but her husband, a very rough man, 
opposed it. The Elder, propossing to go to the house and rea- 
son with the husband, they tried to disuade him, saying the 
man was a desperado ; but he went, and by the time Elder 
Robertson and others reached the house the ruffian was over- 
come, and, with tears, he promised to do better, to seek the 
Lord, and never again to oppose his wife in her religious du- 
ties. • 

Elder Barber left a widow and several children. A son and 
a grandson, Elders Emerson Barber, of Missouri, and Myron 
Tyler, of Rhode Island, are taking the place of their faithful 
predecessor. Though dead he yet speaketh. 

Dolena Barns. — This brother was a member of the Erie 
Conference, Pennsylvania, and a student at the Meadville The- 
ological School from 1844 to 1846. He was an earnest, fluent 
speaker. His ministerial career was short, mostly confined to 
his own conference. Though a fellow-student of Elder Barns, 
I have not been able to find the precise date or particulars of 
his death. 



48 BAKR. 

Oliver Barr. ( 1853.) — The public life of this bro- 
ther covered a space of some twenty-seven years — from 1826 
to 1853. His fields of labor may be classified as follows : The 
first seven years of his ministry, from 1826 to 1833, he labored 
in Chautauqua and adjoining counties in New York and Penn- 
sylvania ; from 1833 to 1841, in Conneaut, O. ; from 1841 to 
1843, in Honeoye Falls ; and from 1843 till 1847, in Aurora, 
HI. Such is the classification given in the "Palladium," May 
21, 1853. The six years from 1847 till 1853, the time of his 
death, were years of fruitful labor. 

All the knowledge I have of the Elder is, a slight acquaint- 
ance with the man during life, and what I gather from his 
and others' writings in our periodicals during a period of some 
twenty years. 

When Elder Barr was converted, the probability is that his 
family lived in Western New York, and that none of them 
were members of the Christian Church. In July, 1832, he 
wrote to the "Palladium" of the baptism, by himself, of his bro- 
ther and his wife, in Salem, (Conneaut,) O. He says : "To 
me, this was a good day, as from the time I united with the 
Christian Church I became a stranger to all my mother's chil- 
dren. When we got to the water, my brother turned to the 
multitude and confessed, that when I united with this people, 
who are everywhere spoken against, he considered me lost, 
that my presence was ever painful to him, and when I moved 
from the town where we had formerly lived, he was rejoiced, 
as he had considered me a disgrace, etc." 

From this we gather that whatever religious connexion his 
family sustained they w T ere bitterly opposed to the Christians. 
In 1837, the Elder joined the New York Western Conference. 
His progress in the ministry, at first, must have been slow, for 
it is generally reported in his early field of labor that he was 
told repeatedly by the advocates of respectability in the min- 
istry, that if he could earn his living by manual labor he had 
better try, for it was clear to all that he would never make a 
preacher. 

During his seven years' life in Chautauqua County, N. Y., 
his labors must have been arduous, but his support was mea- 
ger ; and yet his disposition w 7 as such that he was never satis- 
fied with half-way measures. Elder E. G. Holland says, in a 
sermon delivered on the occasion of Elder Barr's death : "Zeal 
was a property of his temperament, an attribute of his whole 
-career in life. I once heard him say, 'I expect to meet a sud- 



BARR. 49 

den death, when I die. The rush of blood to my head and 
other liabilities of my constitution lead me to think this.' At 
another time, he said, 'I have regarded myself these many 
years as a minute man, not knowing at what moment I may 
be called from duty.'" Speaking on the same subject, Elder 
E. Fay says : "For twenty years he had breasted such surges 
of affliction as would have intimidated and subdued a less cou- 
rageous spirit. Three times he had been nearly killed by acci- 
dents, twice completly disabled by epileptic fits, which nearly 
cost him his life, and once or twice entirely lost his voice and 
was driven in silence from the gospel field. For almost a year, 
in Conneaut, O. , he was unable to ascend the pulpit except on 
his hands and knees, — which he did regularly, — in conse- 
quence of a paralysis in his limbs ; and many times he has 
been carried from his sick bed to the sanctuary of God that he 
might pour out the pent up feelings of a burdened and holy 
heart." 

In connection with the preceding, as illustrative of the same 
subject, I here introduce an extract of a letter written by him- 
self to the "Palladium, March, 1841, when he had lost his 
voice. He says : "My health is good but my organs of speech 
have failed. I feel that I am a broken reed, yet I would de- 
sire to submit all to the direction of him in whose hand is the 
breath of life. I can not describe my feelings when I look 
back upon the imperfection of my past labors in the cause of 
Christ, and see before me but little prospect for the future. I 
have prayed a thousand times that I might die in the gospel 
field. I have a desire with my last breath to proclaim the 
Lamb of God. Yet it may not be so. If I do not recover my 
voice I can preach but little. "Well, let the storm rage and let 
the billows roll, let my voice be lost and all my mental powers 
fail, yet my Redeemer lives, and because he lives I shall live 
also — yes, though I die I shall live again ; aud though I sink 
In silence, Jesus will be preached, his gospel will triumph, and 
the church shall be redeemed." 

The preceding noble sentiment, expressed by a true Chris- 
tian spirit, man-ward is dark and gloomy, God-ward it is light 
and triumphant. However, for the Elder there were other 
and brighter days. Soon after this, we find, through his let- 
ters, that his voice is restored, and the same untiring zeal and 
ambition is expressed. In all his letters, there is a constant 
appeal made for more laborers in his field. In 1837, he writes 
that Elders Nutt and McKee had been with him, but as they 



50 BAKR. 

were leaving to enter other fields there was a territory in Wes- 
tern Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio that had no preacher 
that he knew of within thirty miles east, fifty miles south, and 
one hundred and fifty miles west. In this territory, six 
churches are left destitute of ministerial labor. In the fall of 
1835, with all the ministerial calls for scores of miles around, 
he yet had to work with his hands, preparatory for winter, for 
self and family. After working hard for a few weeks, he was 
struck down with paralysis. 

In 1837, he went on a preaching tour to Michigan ; from 
there he planned a missionary operation to assist in that new 
country. During this year, he attended the dedication of the 
Christian Church in Conneaut, O. Whenever he wrote to our 
periodicals, he took in a wide field of operation, not only the 
church or churches where he himself labored, but all the 
churches and ministers for many miles around ; this shows a 
large heart and cosmopolitan spirit. 

In 1838, he attended a Union meeting with a Mr. Day, a 
Presbyterian minister, a man of large heart and catholic spirit. 
In this operation, Elder Barr's whole soul was enlisted. Id 
1839, we find him making a long trip to Maryland and Vir- 
ginia for the recovery of his voice. Wherever he goes, how- 
ever, the same anxiety for the prosperity of Zion is manifested 
in all his letters. He received much benefit from this trip. 

His faith iu God never failed. His frequent afflictions 
served to increase his faith in Providence. He was a warm 
advocate of the general measures of his own church, and a 
zealous reformer. The temperance, the anti-slavery, and 
other such movements found in him a warm advocate. 

Such is a brief outline of the life and character of Brother 
Barr. His sudden death, by the shocking catastrophe at Nor- 
walk, Conn., connected with the noble mission in which he 
was engaged was a fit sequel for such a man. Feeling the 
great need of a Theological School among the Christians, he 
consented to act as an agent to raise an endowment for the 
purpose. From the character of the man, and the worthiness 
of the enterprise, all felt that it would prove a success. After 
laboring with considerable success in the West, he started on 
his mission to New England. Having spent a few Sundays in 
New York city, his former field of labor, he started to Boston 
on the 8 a. m. train, on May 6, 1853. He parted with his 
friends in New York in his usual cheerful manner. On the 
way to Boston, at Xorwalk, Conn., a drawbridge having been 



BARR— BARRETT. 51 

left open for the passage of a vessel, and the signals not being 
understood by the engineer, the whole train, with its valuable 
cargo, was plunged into the surging waves ; and Oliver Barr, 
the faithful servant of God, with many others, was ushered to 
eternity, without a moment's warning. "He died with his ar- 
mor on," as he had "prayed a thousand times" that it might 
be so. 

THE BARRETTS. Burwell Barrett. (1769—1836.) 
— The subject of this sketch was the son of Edmond and Jan- 
nett Barrett, and was born April 3, 1769. In 1788, he mar- 
ried Lucy Tharp, after whose death he|married Mrs. Nancy 
Davis, who survived him. He died of cancer in the face, Sep- 
tember 5, 1836. In 1789, he joined the Methodist Church, 
and commenced preaching in that body; but, in 1794, he 
joined what was then called "O'Kelly's band" of radical Meth- 
odists. They soon adopted the name of Christians, and Mr. 
Barrett continued an active member of that body till the time 
of his death. 

He was an energetic, zealous, and talented man, of strong, 
conscientious determination to discharge his entire duty, 
whether with the few or many. For many years before his 
death, he was looked upon as authority in church matters by 
those of his own denomination. His preaching was of the 
practical kind. His field of labor was mostly in South Hamp- 
ton, Va. 

Mills Bakrett. (1788 — 1865.) — This, a son of the pre- 
ceding, was born in South Hampton, Va., December 25, 1788. 
April 30, 1811, he was married to Sarah J. Smith, of Avhom 
he had six children, two of whom are now ministers — S. S. 
Barrett, of Norfolk, Va., and M. B. Barrett, of Ivor, Va. 
One of his daughters married a minister, William R. Stowe, 
of Henry, 111. His first wife died, September 22, 1844, and 
in 1845, he married Mrs. Nancy Boykin. He died at his res- 
idence in Isle of Wight County, Va., April 2, 1865, in his 
seventy-seventh year. 

Mills Barrett was converted about 1810, under the labors of 
his own father and Elder Joseph Thomas, the White Pilgrim. 
He commenced preaching soon after, and traveled for some 
time in company with Joseph Thomas. He at once took a 
positive stand as an advocate of Christian liberty. We can 
easily see how a young man of ardent disposition, trained un- 



52 BARRETT— BAETLETT. 

der such leaders as Bur well Barrett, Joseph Thomas, and their 
contemporaries, should be filled with zeal in such a worthy 
cause. Such, we find our subject. He not only preached 
with fervency, but he took the pen, also, as his father had 
done and was doing, and in every way helped on the great 
work of reformation. 

He traveled constantly in those early days, and soon be- 
came a powerful revivalist. After the organization of the 
Eastern Virginia Conference, he became its clerk — an office 
he held till compelled by old age to resign. During his min- 
istry, he had charge of Wells Chapel, Barrett, Providence, 
Antioch, Cypress Chapel, and Spring Hill. As a writer, he 
was clear, terse, and comprehensive, full of matter, with 
enough of earnestness to impress the thought on the mind of 
the reader. For many years of his useful life, he w T as a repre- 
sentative man in his region of country. 

His second wife died about one year before him. His son, 
Elder M. B. Barrett, says : ''Father often spoke of death in 
his last years, but his sky was always clear." And why should 
it not be ? Such a life could lead to nothing but a happy and 
triumphant death. 

Joseph Baetlett. (1781 — 1861.) — Joseph Bartlett was 
born in Brookfield, Mass., December 17, 1781. He moved to 
Vermont, with his parents, in 1783. He was converted in 
Kingston, Vermont, in 1792, and was baptized by Robinson 
Smith at Baruston, Lower Canada, in 1801. Soon after, he 
joined the Freewill Baptist Church. In 1809, he moved to 
Western New York, and for some time lost his interest in re- 
ligion. In 1819, he began to preach, and in 1822, he joined 
the Christian Church in Collins, Erie County, N. Y. He la- 
bored for many years with that church ; in the meantime, he 
traveled considerably in other states and Canada, and was or- 
dained by Elders William True, Joseph Bailey, and Simon 
Bishop. Later, he moved to Southern Michigan. 

He was a man of advanced ideas in regard to a better organ- 
ization of churches and conferences. His health was often 
poor but his labors were quite extensive. 

Z. S. Vail says, in the "Palladium," Vol. XVII, page 57 : 
"The last years of his life were sad years. In August, 1846, 
he gathered his little all together, and took his family to White 
Pigeon, Mich., where, in a little over a year, he buried within 
a month of each other a wife and a daughter. It was a sickly 



BARTLETT— BASCOM. 53 

season, in a new country, and the Elder himself was down 
with the ague and all his worldly means exhausted. Being 
assisted by brethren, he started on his way back to New York. 
At Maumee, O. , his horse was maimed. After waiting eighteen 
days for the horse to become better, it was finally given up, 
and another animal was given him by his friends. Sick, tired, 
and discouraged, lonely and sad, with the companion of his 
youth and a lovely daughter buried in a strange country, he 
made his way, on April 12, 1848, to my home in York, San- 
dusky County, O." 

He visited New York in 1860, where he had a warm wel- 
come from the churches. He died in Alton, Kent County, 
Mich. , about eighty years old. 

Thomas Francis Barry. ( 1846.)— Elder Barry 

was a young minister of great zeal and pure life. From his 
writings, it seems that he was a man of considerable knowl- 
edge, and a smooth fluent writer. He wrote frequently, but, 
like many others of our ministers, he was carried away with 
the current of Adventism ; during several years of this period, 
he devoted most of his time to lecturing on the speedy coming 
of Christ. In this he was very successful, and great revivals 
followed his labors. 

Elder Barry died, I believe, in some part of Western New 
York, while on a preaching tour. He had, in a measure, given 
up his Advent ideas, and if he had lived would, doubtless, 
have been a strong man in the church of his first choice. His 
widow has been for many years an efficient matron in the Tre- 
mont Street Orphan Asylum, in Boston. 

All agree that whatever erroneous ideas he embraced in re- 
gard to the coming of Christ in 1843, he was honest and con- 
scientious in what he considered to be the truth of revelation 
upon that subject. He was a man of small stature, conscien- 
tious in his advocacy of truth, and a plain, forcible, and clear 
speaker. 

Miles Bascom. (1801— 1829.)— This Brother was born in 
Milton, Vt., of poor parents, in 1801, and was converted in 
1819. His field of labor, as a minister, was in Genesee and 
Monroe counties, N. Y. He was married to Miss Lydia Fos- 
ter, of Byron, Genesee County, N. Y., in 1824. He had 
three children — one son and two daughters. He died of con- 
sumption, at Bergen, N. Y., August 28, 1829, aged twenty- 



54 BASCOM— BEACH. 

eight years. He stood high in his profession, for so young a 
man. 

THE BATES. Caleb Bates. (1796 .)— Mr. 

Bates was a minister in Ohio. He was born in 1796, began 
to preach in 1817, joined the Shakers, left them in 1821, mar- 
ried a Shaker lady, and moved to one of the Eastern States 
where he labored faithfully in the Christian Church. He was 
a member of the Legislature for several terms. He was con- 
sidered a good grammarian, and somewhat of a scholar and 
preacher. 

Reuben Bates was a member of the South Wabash Chris- 
tian Conference, in the State of Illinois. He baptized Elder 
Austin Hutson in 1848. He died the conference year preced- 
ing October, 1872. He was a faithful workman. 

Anne Baton was a female laborer in the church, in Tus- 
carawas County, O. 

John Batterall. (1793 — 1845.) — This Elder was born 
in Montgomery County, Va., in 1793. His father moved 
from Virginia to Miami County, O., when John was small. 
In 1806, John became deeply convicted of sin, but, like many 
others, he fought his convictions, and tried in every way to 
drown the voice of God in his heart. His burden of sin in- 
creased, however, till he was compelled to call for mercy. In 
1812, he joined the army of his country, and served six months 
in the war. In 1815, he was married, and soon after the old 
impression that he should preach, stifled for a time, came back 
with double power. 

He finally yielded, and commenced preaching with the Free- 
will Baptists in Miami County. In 1831, he moved to Dela- 
ware County, Ind., joined the Christian Church, and in April, 
1833, was ordained by Elders C. Vanausdall and H. Moss- 
burg. From this time till death, he labored in this part of 
Indiana. The Elder was considered a good, zealous, and use- 
ful minister. He died in his prime, fifty-eight years of age, of 
erysipelas or black tongue, after a sickness of four and a half 
days. We have no knowledge of his family. He had one son 
who has been an acceptable minister in the Christian Church 
for many years. 

W. B. H. Beach. (1832— 1875.— This was a young min- 



BEACH 55 

ister even when he died, yet, when we think of the many 
changes in that comparatively short life, we are impressed with 
the peculiar activity and energy of the man. He was born, 
near Rochester, N. Y., June 10, 1832, died at Cheshire, IS". Y., 
January 13, 1875. His father died in 1842, when the son was 
ten years old. The family was in limited circumstances. 
The mother was left with four small children, William being* 
the oldest. After struggling hard for two years, the mother 
followed the father to the spirit land, in 1844. At that time 
the family lived in Medina County, Ohio. The four small or- 
phans were separated. 

About this time, the subject of our sketch joined the Baptist 
Church, and in 1848, with a stout heart and four dollars, the 
boy of sixteen years left Ohio for the great city of New York, 
and arrived at his destination with ten cents. As usual in such 
cases, there was no work for the strange boy in the great city. 
He was nearly starving when brother Stratton, a member of 
the Christian Church, found him and took him to his own 
house and gave him employment. Here he first became ac- 
quainted with the Christians, through his kind guardian. He 
joined the church under the preaching of Elder William Lane. 
In 1853, he entered the college at Oberlin, O., for the pur- 
pose of teaching, and, at the opening of Antioch College, in 
Yellow Springs, O., he entered there as a student and con- 
tinued so for eighteen months. His object at this time was to 
acquire an education, he having no particular object in view. 
Soon, however, the work of the ministry presented itself to his 
mind, and he preached his first sermon in Stanford ville, N. Y. 
His first charge was in Columbia County, N. Y., where he 
was ordained in 1858. From this time till the close of life, 
his labors in the ministry were constant. He labored, as a pas- 
tor, with the churches of Warrenville, Day, Hartwick, South 
Westerloo, Starkey, Rock Stream, Naples, and Cheshire. 

Beside his pastoral work, in which he was quite successful, 
he labored extensively in the general work of the church. He 
was the prime mover in the organization of the New York 
£tate Christian Association , and acted as president and agent 
<jf the same. He did much, also, in raising an endowment for 
Union Christian College, Merom, Ind., and for Starkey Sem- 
inary, Starkey, X. Y. It mattered not to him in what part 
of the country the cause required help, he was ready. 

He was a conscientious man when it cost something to carry 
out his principles. When fourteen years of age, and very 



56 BEACH— BECK. 

poor, he gave up a remunerative employment in a drug store 
rather than sell whisky to his fellow-men, contrary to his con- 
victions. 

At his death, he left a mourning wife and four small chil- 
dren. His death was a great shock to his fellow-laborers in 
the State of New York. 

THE BEANS. Asa Bean. ( 1838.)— All I have 

found concerning this minister is a statement of Sister E. D. 
Allen, of Charlotteville, N. Y., that he died in Bangor, Me., 
May 13, 1838. 

Edward Bean. (1795— 1839.)— We have no history of 
this Brother except the following dates. He was born in 1795, 
and died in Mercer, Me., aged forty-four years. 

Jeremiah Bean. (1783 — 1835.) — The subject of this me- 
moir was born in Gilmanton, N. H., in 1783. When he was 
a child, his parents moved to Redfield, Me. As he grew up 
he acquired great muscular power ; his mind, also, was very 
strong. In 1801, he embraced religion, and soon after became 
a public speaker among the Freewill Baptists. He labored as 
a minister for some years with that people, but finally joined 
the Christians, with whom he continued as a faithful minister 
until death. He was a member of the Kennebeck Christian 
Conference, and was considered by all a man of talent and 
great integrity. His usefulness as a minister, however, was, 
to a great extent, diminished on account of the asthma — a dis- 
ease that affected him seriously for a long time. 

The death of this good man was very singular. On the 
sixth of January, 1835, he rose from his bed as usual and 
prayed with his family ; but about 10 A. m. he told his friends 
that "nature must yield/' He then lay down, closed his eyes, 
and expired, aged fifty-two years. His funeral was attended 
by a large concourse of people, when a discourse was delivered 
by Elder Josiah Bradley. 

Moses Bean. — In the "Christian Journal," Vol. IV, page 
55, I find this short notice of Elder Bean : "Died in St. Jo- 
seph, Mich., Elder Moses Bean, formerly of Candia, this state." 

William Beck was a young minister of great moral worth 
and considerable talent. His labors w r ere mostly confined to 



BECK— BINGHAM. 57 

Boon and Montgomery counties, Ind. He was raised in Un- 
ion County, Ind. He married young, and soon after com- 
menced laboring as a public gift in the above mentioned coun- 
ties. He was ordained in 1858. His home was in Boon 
County, on a farm, not far from Thornton. He joined the 
Western Indiana Conference, and, I believe, was ordained in 
that body. He was very zealous, ami though his education 
was limited, yet his upright life, his zeal, and his self-sacrific- 
ing nature made him an useful man. He died early — perhaps 
1860 — leaving a family and large number of friends to mourn 
his departure. 

Newman Benson. (1808— 1848.)— This is one of the 
many ministers who found resting places in the old grave-yard 
at Conneaut, O. He was for some time of a skeptical turn of 
mind ; but when convinced of the truth of Christianity, he be- 
came a strong advocate of the same. I think he was a spirit- 
ual child of Oliver Barr. He was ordained May 2, 1844, at 
Conneaut, O. Sermon by E. G. Holland ; other parts by- 
Professor Huidekoper, and Elders Fish and Church. 

Elder Badger, in a letter to the "Palladium," Vol. XVI,. 
page 37, speaks of Elder Benson as a man of good talent and 
upright life, and that he had labored with the church at Con- 
neaut in 1847 with great success. He died about 1848, in the 
prime of life, not far from forty years of age. 

Joseph Beery. ( 1834.) — This brother was a 

Southern man. He lived, labored, and died in the State of 
Louisiana. His death took place September 29, 1834. 

THE BIGLOWS. Henry Biglow was a licentiate in 
the Eel River Indiana Christian Conference. He died in 1869. 

Biglow was a member of the North-western Ohio 



Christian Conference, and died the conference year preceding 
September, 1876. 

Roger Blngham. — In the early days of the Christians in 
Rhode Island and Conneticut, the name of this Elder was fre- 
quently mentioned. Elder James Burlingame, of CoA T entry, 
R. I., writes : "Elder Bingham was a man of talent, respecta- 
bility, and wealth ; but during his long life he never traveled 
far from home."' 
4 



.58 BIRD— BLACKMAR. 

Thomas Bird. — In an early clay, there was a minister of the 
.above name who labored in Kentucky. 

David Birely. (1823 — 1858.) — This minister was a mem- 
ber of the Miami Christian Conference, and lived in Miami 
County, O. When quite young, he lost his father. He 
-sought the Savior under the preaching of Elder John Wil- 
liams, of whose family he was a member. In his ministerial 
career he first joined the Tippecanoe Indiana Christian Confer- 
ence but was transfered to the Miami Christian Conference. 

He died January 10, 1858, of typhoid fever, about thirty- 
five years old. At the time of his death, he was pastor of the 
church on Ludlow creek, where he was buried. His death 
was deeply felt by the churches of Hopewell, Ludlow Creek, 
and Granville Creek, where he labored. 

Joseph Blackmar. (1800 — 1878.) — This minister was 
born in Dudley, Mass., March 13, 1800. In 1801, his parents 
moved to Greene County, N. Y. In 1817 and '18, Joseph at- 
tended the Greeneville Acadamy, and in 1818, he attended 
Hamilton College. In September of the same year, he buried 
his mother. In 1821, he joined the Methodists, and in 1822, 
was baptized by pouring ; this same year he was licensed to 
preach. Soon, however, he became dissatisfied with his bap- 
tism, and other doctrines and usages of the Methodists, and 
traveled several miles to consult with Richard Davis, a Chris- 
tian preacher, who baptized him by immersion. At once, he 
commenced laboring with the Christians in and around Scipio, 
N. Y. Hitherto, he had supported himself by teaching. 

In 1834, he concluded to devote his whole time to the min- 
istry. At this time, he was near Conneaut, O. In company 
with Elder Jesse E. Church, he went to Canada, where he re- 
mained thirty-two months. In 1833, he was married to Eliza 
Jane Philbrick, of Andover, N. H. At this time, in summing 
up the labor of nine years, he found that he had traveled 
23,717 miles, that he had preached 1,730 sermons, that he had 
attended 1,350 additional meetings, that he had baptized sev- 
enty-six persons, and married seven couples. For all this time 
his compensation was next to nothing, as he peremptorily re- 
fused any donation from nonprofessors, and asked nothing of 
church members. After this, he felt that others were depend- 
ent upon him for support, and that he should be compensated 
for his labors. 



BLACKMAR— BLAISDELL 59 

As the support from ministerial labor was insufficient he 
turned his attention to business. The time from 1835 to 1844 
— nine-and-a-half years — he spent in Philadelphia engaged in 
various pursuits — teaching, publishing books, peddling, and 
raising silk worms and mulberry trees. In these transactions, 
he made thousands of dollars and lost them again. In 1849, 
he moved to Boston, Mass., where he continued the balance of 
his life. 

Few men have passed through more changes than this El- 
der. In early life, he had the advantages of property. For 
nine or ten years he endured the greatest self-sacrifice for the 
sake of doing good ; part of this time was spent in Ohio, Can- 
ada, New York, and New England. After his marriage he 
was sometimes in affluence and at other times in poverty ; for 
some years before he died he was in good circumstances. His 
views, also, underwent many changes. In early life, his views 
on religion were of an impracticable kind, as to revivals and fi- 
nances ; but he worked faithfully to his convictions and never 
murmured. Later in life his religious views were liberal and 
very practicable. An article of his, published in the "Herald" 
of 1866, on revivals, is full of good sense. He was always 
cheerful, active, and ingenious. Both he and his companion 
worked through life for the benefit of the young — training 
them for life's work, in Sunday Schools and in the temper- 
ance cause. They were useful in life and happy in death. 

William Blaisdell. (1783— 1854.)— William Blaisdell 
was born in Southhampton, N. H., January 7, 1783. He was 
taken by his parents to Gilmanton, N. H., when about five 
years old. He was converted in 1805, and soon commenced 
his labors in the ministry, among the Freewill Baptists. He 
soon heard of the Christians, met and joined them, and contin- 
ued an active member of that church through life. He was 
married to Betsy Martin, daughter of Elder Richard Martin 
and sister of Elder C. W. Martin. When he commenced 
preaching, he was teaching school in Gilmanton, and preached 
his first sermon in the school house where he taught. 

October 9, 1809, he was ordained to the full work of the 
ministry by Elders Elias Smith, Richard Martin, and others. 
He continued to preach in Gilmanton and the surrounding 
■churches for about thirty years — with occasional visits to the 
churches of Sandwich, Barnstead, Meredith, Sanbornton, Can- 
terbury, Candia, London, Stafford, Allentown, etc., in New 



60 BLAISDELL— BLANCHARD. 

Hampshire with occasional preaching tours through Vermont. 

In 1839, he moved to Tnfftonborough and took charge of 
that church. He continued his labors with this church untill 
1841, and preached there and with the surrounding churches 
until August 7, 1853, when he preached his last sermon at 
Wolfsborough, from Rev. 20 : 4th and 5th verses. He died 
October 23, 1853, of inflamation of the stomach, aged seventy- 
one years. He left a widow, ten children, and a host of friends 
to mourn his departure. 

From letters in my possession, from Elder Simeon Swett, 
and others of Elder Blaisd ell's acquaintance, I understand that 
he was a well proportioned man, tall and of commanding ap- 
pearance. His voice was feeble, smooth, and musical. He 
was free and easy in conversation, modest and deferential, yet 
graceful in his manners. He was a companionable associate 
and an impressible speaker, convincing all of sincerity of pur- 
pose and goodness of heart. His library, though not large, 
was choice. He seldom attempted to present a subject with- 
out previous examination. His preaching was extemporaneous 
though studied. He stood high in the estimation of his neigh- 
bors, both as a minister and as a civilian. Beside receiving 
from him the message of grace as from a messenger of Christ, 
they elected him to several offices of trust and honor as a civil- 
ian. He served as a town clerk for twenty-one years, and rep- 
resented them in the Legislature for some time. 

It is probable that Elder Blaisdell had some weaknesses, as 
he was a man ; but, from all the accounts I have been able to 
gather concerning his history, he must have possessed a good 
heart and a well-balanced mind. 

Lewis Blake was a member of the Ohio Christian Confer- 
ence. He died preceding the conference session of August, 

1877. 

William Blanchard. This minister was a pioneer of the 
church in Illinois, and was one of the organizers of the Spoon 
River Illinois Christian Conference. Elder Isaac Goff says of 
him : "He was one of our first ministers, and best of men. 
He died in 1868." He himself writes to the "Palladium,'' 
Vol. X, page 239, (July 24, 1841,) that a few years before 
he knew oi no members of the Christian Church in all the 
country. Now he had organized a Christian Church of nine- 
teen members (near Princeville, Peoria County, 111.) of which 



BLANCHARD— BLODGET. 61 

four of his own children were members. He may be called 
the father of the Spoon River Conference. 

Joseph H. Bland was one of the ministers of the North 
Carolina Conference from 1800 to 1820. He used to visit El- 
der John Hayes. 

Hexey Bliss. (1790 — 1872.) — This Brother was born in 
the eastern part of the State of New York, October 5, 1790. 
In early life, he embraced religion, and joined the Baptist 
Church. In 1831, he became acquainted with the Christian 
Church, and under the preaching of Elder Oliver Ban* he was 
convinced that its people held a correct view of the Bible. He 
joined the church , in which he continued faithful to the end of 
his long life. 

In 1838, lie left the State of New York and moved to Pec- 
ria County, 111., then a thinly settled country. Soon he found 
brethren of his own faith, and with them he joined in worship. 
He joined the church where Elder John Scott was preaching, 
and was soon set apart to the work of the ministry, being or- 
dained by Elder Scott and others. July 6, 1839, he wrote 
back through the "Palladium" to his friends in [Chautauqua 
County, N. Y. : "I left Chautauqua County a year ago last 
March for Illinois, and arrived at Peoria the fourth day of 
May. I set up a meeting in my own house immediately on 
arriving here. I have preached to good effect, I trust, in pri- 
vate houses of Presbyterians, Baptists, and Methodists. Five 
weeks ago, I went west twenty-seven miles to Knox County 
where I had a meeting. The next day, we had a meeting at 
Maquon ; we had two divisions — one by myself, and one by 
Elder John Scott. It was the happiest day I ever saw." 

What the labors of this Elder were from 1839 to 1872, the 
time of his death, we do not know. 

Elder Blanchard. who wrote his biography, which was pub- 
lished in the "Herald of Gospel Liberty," September, 1872, 
says that for some time the old father was kept much at home 
by the sickness of his wife, who was subject to fits. He died 
.at the house of his son, in Peoria County, 111., September 14, 
1872, eighty-two years old. 

John Blodget. ( 1826.) — Few men in the Chris- 
tian Church have been more sincerely and universally respected 
than the subject of this sketch. Most of the writers to our pe- 



62 BLODGET— BOOTHBY. 

riodicals mention the names of Blodget and Lawrence as two 
of our most prominent men, who died in the same place (Con- 
neaut) and were buried side by side. From the information I 
could gather, Elder Blodget came from some of the New Eng- 
land States, probably New Hampshire, to New York and Ohio. 
In the "Memoirs of Elder Joseph Badger," page 185, Ave find 
that Elder Blodget accompanied Mr. Badger from New Hamp- 
shire to New York, in 1817. On page 187 we find that Mr. 
Blodget was ordained at Pittsford, N. Y., August 30, 1817, at 
a general meeting. 

He moved to Conneaut, O., and became the pastor of the 
church there. He was very successful, and was highly es- 
teemed by the people. September 25, 1826, he died at his 
post, leaving a wife and three children to mourn his early de- 
parture. 

Ira Bonner. (1800— 1851.)— This Elder was bom in 
1800. He commenced his ministerial labors in the bounds of 
the Michigan Western Christian Conference, of which he was 
a member. He was ordained while on a visit to New York as 
an evangelist. He labored faithfully as a minister for a few 
years, and died in Kinderhook, Branch County, Mich., Janu- 
ary 12, 1851, in his fifty-first year. 

Joseph Boody. (1773 — 1860.) — From a statement made 
by Elder Moses Howe, of New Bedford, Mass., who was well 
acquainted with this brother, I find that Joseph was born in 
1773. He embraced religion and was ordained to the minis- 
try among the Baptists. He joined the Christian Church at 
an early day, and was a co-laborer in New England with Ab- 
ner Jones, Elias Smith and others. He was one of the minis- 
ters who assisted in the ordination of John Rand, in 1806 — 
the first minister ordained among the Christians as a distinct 
people. 

Elder Boody's home was in Durham, N. H., where he offi- 
ciated as pastor of the church. He died there in 1860, eighty- 
seven years of age. In person, he was full six feet tall, and 
quite heavy. His education was good, for those times. His 
social powers were great. He was full of anecdotes, lively and 
cheerful, and a great friend of children, who were drawn to 
him on account of his mild and loving disposition. 

John Boothby. (1781— 1878.)— This brother was bom 



BOOTHBY— BOYER. 63 

October 1, 1781, and died in Saco, Me., April 4, 1878. About 
1800, he was converted, and was baptized by Elder John Bnz- 
zell. October 12, 1812, he was ordained by Elders Henry- 
Frost and Moses Rollins. 

This was one of our oldest ministers in New England. At 
his funeral, in Saco, there were some twelve ministers present. 
They all spoke feelingly of the labors of the old patriarch, and 
how faithful he had been in a ministry of more than sixty- 
eight years. All of them had looked upon him as a pillar, and 
his death at the advanced age of ninety-six years was consid- 
ered a great loss. 

Jacob Bowen. — June 1, 1817, this Brother was ordained 
at Coventry, R. L, in company Avith Caleb Morse and Archi- 
bald Bates, the board of Elders consisting of Douglass, Far- 
num, Nathaniel Burlingame, Joshua Perkins, and Henry 
Brown. Archibald Bates says that Bowen was a single man 
at the time of his ordination, and that he died soon after. 

THE BOWMANS. William Bowman. ( 1861.) 

— This brother was a member of the Bluffton Indiana Chris- 
tian Conference. He lived and labored in Delaware, Wells, 
and Bluffton counties, Ind. He was a good and useful man, 
but his labors were chiefly local. 

John Bowman. ( 1829.) — Barton W. Stone speaks 

of this minister, in the "Christian Messenger," Vol. Ill, page 
96, as follows : "Died at his residence, near Murfreesborough,. 
Tenn., the 7th of January, 1829, Elder John Bowman. He 
died the third day of his illness, perfectly composed and re- 
signed to the will of God. With him, the editor (Elder Stone) 
has enjoyed an acquaintance of thirty-five years. He was edu- 
cated and ordained a Presbyterian minister in North Carolina 
a short time before my acquaintance with him. Some years 
after, he moved his family to Tennessee, and united with the 
church of Christ, to which he was truly a father and guide. 
His piety and good sense were never disputed." 

Samuel Boyd. — This minister lived and died in Wayne- 
County, Ind. He died at the age of eighty-one years. 

Daniel Boyer. (1825— 1853.)— This Elder was of Ger- 
man descent, his father being the pastor of a German church 



64 BOYER— BRADFORD 

in Crawford County, Pa. In his youth, he joined the Metho- 
dist Chu.ch, and continued a member of that body till after 
his entrance into the Meadville Theological School. He was 
a printer by trade, which made him a correct and fluent writer. 
At the opening of the school in 1844, he entered it as a Meth- 
odist. He soon changed his views on the use of creeds and 
confession, and during his three years stay in Meadville he was 
quite liberal. 

After his graduation, in 1847, it was his intention to visit 
New England as a candidate ; but on his way, he settled in 
Rock Stream, and took the charge of the church in that place, 
and of another church at Sellonton, in the same county — 
Yates. In this, his first field of labor, he had considerable 
success. There were several additions at Rock Stream, and 
over twenty at Sellonton. During this time, also, he was mar- 
ried to a daughter of Elder Ezra Marvin, of Rock Stream, and 
became a member of the New York Central Christian Confer- 
ence. After continuing in his first field of labor three years, 
he spent one year at Jefferson, N. Y., when he received a call 
to visit a Unitarian congregation, at Camielton, on the Ohio 
River, in Indiana. Duriug his labor of two years in this place, 
a church was organized, and the prospect before him was quite 
flattering ; but, in the midst of his usefulness, he was cut 
down by the fell destroyer. He died February 24, 1853, aged 
twenty-3ight years. 

Daniel Brackett. ( 1865.) — This brother was a 

member of the New York Western Christian Conference, and 
lived at Clarendon, in the same state. Farming was his occu- 
pation. His education was limited, but he was an efficient ex- 
horter. He died in 1865. 

Henry S. Bradford. (1806— 1845.)— In the "Gospel 
Herald," Vol. Ill, page 366, is given an account of this bro- 
ther. In 1809, he was born, near Seneca Lake, N. Y. His 
father died when he was young. In his nineteenth year, he 
made a profession of religion, and soon after began to preach, 
being quite successful in the conversion of sinners. About 
1832, he moved to Ohio, and in 1839, took charge of the 
churches of Williamsport and Mt. Sterling. Of these churches 
he continued pastor for three or four years. From 1837 to 
1841, he wrote to the "Palladium," from Williamsport, O. 
In most of his letters he gave accounts of large additions to the 



BRADFORD--BRALEY. 65 

church. In one letter, he writes of great excitement in the 
place about a discussion on the doctrine of the Trinity ; the 
champions in this discussion were Elder Perkins, of the Chris- 
tian Church, and the Presiding Elder of the M. E. Church. 
In the last years of his stay in Williamsport, he devoted the 
most of his time to teaching school. He held the office of a 
clerk to the Deer Creek Ohio Conference for several years, 
and was very active in improving the organization of the con- 
ference and churches. 

July 29, 1845, he left Williamsport with his family to take 
n tour through Indiana and Illinois, with the intention of leav- 
ing the latter in the neighborhood of Knob Prairie church, in 
Clark County, O. At the house of Elder M. D. Baker, he 
was taken sick, and continued growing worse till the 22nd or 
23rd of August when he died, aged thirty-nine years. 

THE BRADLEYS. Josiah Bradley.— Josiah and Jon- 
athan Bradley are always spoken of together. They lived in 
the same part of the State of Maine ; they were both at the 
ordination of Preseott and Clough ; they were probably broth- 
ers. Elder W. H. Nason, of >Vest Springfield, N. H., says 
■of the Bradleys, 1873, "They were elderly men forty years ago.' 

Johnathan Bradley. (1770 — 1839.) — Elder J. B. Pres- 
eott writes : "Elder Bradley was born in 1770, and died in 
Vienna, Me., October 21, 1839. His disease was dumb palsy. 
He was one of the first in Kemiebeck w T ho came out and took 
the grounds of the Christians, disowning all other names." El- 
der Preseott speaks of him as a talented and useful minister, 
rand a worthy citizen. 

In the "Life of Elder Preseott," page 84, I find that Elder 
Bradle}^ baptized Elder Simon Clough in Monmouth, Me., in 
1817, and that he was one of the committee in the ordination 
of Preseott and Clough, November 2,1817. 

W. N. Bragg. — This was an active, zealous minister of the 
North Carolina Christian Conference. He died in North Car- 
olina about the close of the War of the Rebellion. 

Martin P. Braley. (1802— 1872.)— From a statement 
of Elder A. G. Morton we find the following. This brother 
was born in 1802, was converted in 1822, and began to preach 
a few years after. His health failed, and it was his lot to suf- 



m BRALEY— BRITTON. 

fer for many years. November, 17, 1872, he died, in Dighton ? 

Mass. 

A. Branson. — This was a Christian minister in Kentucky, 
in 1804 and '5. He stood firm against the Shaker influence 
in the church about that time. 

Abram Brayshaw. — Joshua L. Johnson, ofMerom, Ind.,, 
states that this brother had died in 1855. He was a faithful 
minister in the Southern Wabash Conference, 111. 

Alexander Briggs. — This brother was a member of the 
Tippecanoe Christian Conference, Ind., and lived in White 
County, the same state. He was a devoted man. He died 
about the year 1851, in middle age. 

Mark D. Briney. (1810— 1876.)— This Elder was bom 
in Warren County, O., October 8, 1810. Soon he was left 
an orphan. Withal, however, the boy managed to care for 
himself, and to acquire a reasonable education. While young,, 
he embraced religion, and in 1833, he began to preach. Soon 
he became an efficient preacher, and had charge of several 
churches, beside laboring extensively as a missionary, as was- 
the custom with most ministers of Ohio in that day. October 
29, 1840, he married Miss Amanda Ebersole, who was well 
qualified for the position of a pastor's wife. 

The latter years of his life were devoted mainly to farming, 
in Champaign County, O. He was forced to this in order to- 
support his large family ; yet his interest in his conference — 
the Central Ohio — never failed. Every year he attended 
many meetings, and often had charge of congregations. May 
10, 1876, he died, at Woodstock, O., leaving a wife aod nine 
children to mourn their loss. 

Elder Briney was a man of great earnestness ; whatever he 
found to do he did with all his might. He was a plain spo- 
ken man — so much so that some times he made enemies ; but 
he had a kind heart, and was a zealous advocate of his church. 

Benjamin Britton. (1779 — 1860.) — This was one of our 
oldest ministers in Ohio. He was born in Frederick County, 
Virginia, September, 13, 1779. Married Elizabeth Grace, 
December 23, 1799, a lad} of great piety and zeal. She walked 
seven miles to invite Noah Fiddler, a Methodist preacher, to 



BRITTON--BROWX. 67 

preach iu the neighborhood, under whose preaching her hus- 
band was converted. Mr. Britton moved to Ohio in 1807, 
and settled in Franklin County. He was a local preacher in 
the Methodist Church. When he met the Christians, and 
heard them state their views, he preferred them and he and 
his wife joined the latter church in an early day. He labored 
extensively through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. 
He preached fifty-nine years and died September 26, 1860. 

As was customary in his day, he was strong in the advocacy 
of the doctrines of his church, and very useful in building up 
churches and adding strength to the denomination in the days 
of its weakness. 

Daniel Bromley. (1775 — 1858.) — Elder Bromley was a 
member of the New York Western Conference. He died Feb- 
ruary 4, 1858, eighty-three years old. 

THE BROWNS. John W. Browx. ( 1875.)— 

Elder Brown was born not far from 1808, Jyet when sixty-six 
years old he did not look older than a man of fifty. It is 
probable he was born and brought up in Virginia. As early 
as 1845 he was an active member in the Central Ohio Chris- 
tian Conference, where he continued to labor for many years 
longer. His last labor in Ohio was in the bounds of the East- 
ern and Ohio Conferences, where he was very successful as a 
a worker. Indeed, he was a leading man in that region of the 
state. 

About 1872 or '73, he moved his family to the Shenandoah 
Valley, Va., where he labored most faithfully among the scat- 
tered churches in that region. He died there in 1875. Elder 
Brown, in many respects, was a peculiar man. Early in life 
he devoted his entire self to the ministry of the Christian 
Church. As such, he improved his natural talent by labor. 
He became well acquainted with all the doings of the denomi- 
nation. In the general measures of the church he was always 
thoroughly enlisted, and was prompt to commend them to the 
churches where he labored. As a man, Elder Brown was 
genial and pleasant in his companionship. He was thoroughly 
denominational. His education was quite respectable, ac- 
quired, likely, in his work. As a speaker, he was easy and 
fluent in delivery, and always manifested great anxiety in the 
welfare of his people. As a missionary he excelled. He was 
married twice and brought up a large family of children. As 



68 BROWN—BRYANT. 

stated before, lie looked much younger than his real age would 
indicate. In a word, Elder Brown was a good man. His loss 
was greatly felt by the churches. 

Henry Brown. — This brother assisted in the ordination of 
Caleb Morse, Archibald Bates, and Jacob Bowen, at Coventry, 
R. I., June 1, 1817. He lived and died in Coventry. 

John Brown. — Tn the "Christian Palladium," Vol. XIV, 
page 157, it is stated that Elder Brown was raised in New 
Hampshire, was converted in 1842, and commenced preaching 
soon after. As he was a young man of much information, 
with a good heart, and a fluent speaker, he took a high posi- 
tion at once. In 1845, he was at Naples, N. Y. In 1849, he 
took charge of a church in New Bedford. Soon after, he died. 
He was a good preacher and an excellent man. 

John Brown. — This was a Kentucky preacher in an early 
day, a fellow-laborer of David Douglass and others. 

Asbury K. Browning. (1843 —1865.)— Elder B. A. 
Cooper, of Clearville, Pa., furnishes the following. "Asbury 
was born in Maryland, in 1813, embraced religion in 1854 or 
'55, and gave great promise for one so young. In 1861, he 
was licensed to preach, in 1861, he was ordained, and in 1863, 
he took charge of the churches west of the mountain, in Penn- 
sylvania, where for a year he did great good. As he was a 
strong Union man in those days of war and treason, he of- 
fended some of his congregations. In consequence of this, he 
went home, sold his horse and started to Antioch College, Yel- 
low Springs, O. There he continued his studies until the sum- 
mer vacation of 1864, when he hired out in harvest to bind 
after a reaper. The exertion was too much for him, as it pro- 
duced rupture of the lungs, which terminated his life in April, 
1865." 

Rufus Bruce. (1775— 1849.)— Christian "Palladium," 
Vol. XVIII, page 162, gives the following: "Elder Bruce was 
born in 1775, and died May 6, 1849, at Chester Vt. He 
buried his wife a short time before. He was a faithful, good 
man. 

THE BRYANTS. Charles Bryant. (1822 — 1861. — 



BRYANT. 69 

Charles Bryant was born in South Reading, Mass., February 

2, 1822, and was the youngest of eleyen children. When 
four years old his parents moved to Charleston , Mass. , where 
Charles attended school. After studying for sometime in the 
Grammar school in Charleston, he learnt the business of shoe- 
making. He had strong impressions to preach when twelve 
years old, but after leaving school he fell into bad company, 
and this impression left him for a time. In 1839, he clerked 
in a shoe store, and through the influence of some of the 
members of Elder Himes' church in Boston, and his sister, 
Julia Bryant, who was converted under the preaching of Elder 
Himes, he was led to attend meetings in that church. Before 
this time he had been very wild, so far even as to using pro- 
fane language, but Elder Himes' conversation had a great 
influence in his reformation. February, 1840, he was converted 
under the labors of Elder Himes, and the July following he 
preached his first sermon in Portland, Me. After this, he spent 
six months in traveling through Kittery, Saco, Portland, Wells 
and Kennebunk, Me. 

January, 1841, his means having been exhausted , he went 
back to South Reading, to work at his trade, and earn money. 
During this time he attended the Baptist Church, but about 
1841 he became cold. Soon after this the great Advent ex- 
citement swept through the land and Elder Bryant was recon- 
verted, and at once began preaching with the Adventists with 
great ardor and continued in this connection until the close of 
1843 ; when the predicted time for the personal coming of 
Christ had passed he gave up Adventism. In 1844, he was 
ordained by Elder Lincoln, Edmund, Russel, and Haley and 
soon after he lost his voice in a measure and quit preaching. 
In March, 1845, he settled as pastor in Portsmouth, R. I. July 
1, 1845, he was married to Miss J. Frances Wright, daughter 
of X. C. Wright, in whose house he had become a boarder in 
his Advent preaching of 1843. From this time his life work 
begins in earnest. He left Portsmouth, R. I., October 13, 
1849, and moved to Somerset, Mass. . where he continued three 
years. He was very minute in his accounts. At the close of 
the year 1847, he had preached 183 sermons, seven funerals, 
married two couple, baptized six, gave the hand of fellowship 
to six, sat in one ecclesiastical council, assisted in the organiza- 
tion of a church, and held two protracted meetings. He 1 ad 
several revivals in Somerset. October 1, 1849, leaving Som- 
erset, he moved to Eastport, Me., where he continued until 



70 BRYANT— BULLOCK. 

October 1853. During this time he had a spell of bleeding at 
the lungs. From Eastport he went to South Reading to re- 
suscitate, but he was called to Portsmouth, N. H. He con- 
tinued in Portsmouth until May, 1854, when at the New Eng- 
land Convention of that year, he engaged in the Home Mis- 
sionary Society of that body, leaving his family at South Read- 
ing, Mass. 

November 12, 1854, he moved to Saundersville, Mass., 
where he continued to labor for more than four years, and dur- 
ing this time he also became a corresponding editor of the "Her- 
ald of Gospel Liberty." During these four years he enjoyed 
good health, and had good success in his ministry. January 
28, 1859, he went to Skowhegan, Me., on trial, and March 1, 
he moved his family where he continued to labor until the 
close of his mortal career. Sunday, December 22, 1861, he 
complained of sore throat, but preached twice, as usual, and 
married a couple the same day. His disease proved to be the 
diptheria, which grew worse and worse, until the 26th, when it 
terminated fatally. He bore his sufferings with great patience, 
and when he became sensible that his time on earth was short, 
he requested his comj^anion to trust in God, and it would be 
well. 

F O. E. Bryant labored in New Jersey and Pennsylvania 
about 1832 to '36. He moved to Vernon, N. Y., about 1839. 

William M. Bryant. (1879— 1874.)— Mr. Bryant was 
born July 9, 1793, and died in Kennebunk Port, Me., Janu- 
ary 9, 1874. He commeneedpreachmginl834, and preached 
fifty years. He was a school teacher for thirty-five years. He 
held all the offices in the town where he died, and was a citi- 
zen in the same for forty-five years. He was a zealous worker 
in the cause of temperance, education, morality and religion. 
He died suddenly of heart disease in his eighty-first year. 

Charles Bl t gby. (1831 — 1865.) — This brother died in 
Ashley, Me., July 7, 1865, aged thirty-four years. 

Isaac N. Bullington was a member of the Central Illi- 
nois Christian Conference, and was present at its organization. 

Lewis Bullock. (1814— 1852.)--From the "Christian 
Palladium," Vol. XX ? page 768, we learn that this brother 



BULLOCK— BUEDICK. 71 

was born in 1814, embraced religion in Chautauqua County, 
N. Y., and there commenced his labors in the ministry. In 
1810, he was ordained in Ellington, Chautauqua County, N. 
Y. Soon after, he moved with his family to the northern 
part of Illinois. Here he suffered much with disease, and 
from the constant illness of his family. Hoping to improve 
the health of his wife, in the Fall of 1851, he went back on 
a visit to his old friends in New York, and died at New Al- 
bion, Cattaragus County, X. Y., of typhoid fever, February 10, 
1852, aged thirty-eight years. Elder Barr speaks of him as a 
modest, timid and very devoted man of God. During his 
stay in Illinois, he was clerk for several years of the Northern 
Illinois, and Wisconsin Christian Conference. He wrote fre- 
quently for the "Christian Palladium" and other periodicals. 
His letters are marked with ability, clearness and great zeal in 
the cause. Though far from home, he died calmly in the 
triumph of faith. 

James Burbridge was a companion of George Alkire and 
others in the Deer Creek Conference, Ohio, until the fall of 
1837, when he moved to Highland, Pike County, 111. For 
awhile he labored with great earnestness in organizing churches, 
having but one young preacher by the name of Gale, twelve 
miles away, as a co-worker. But like Alkire, and some others, 
he partially embraced the Disciple doctrine of "Baptism for 
the remission of sins," and his labors were in a measure lost 
to the Christian Church. He was a man of much ability as a 
preacher, and had been very useful in building up the cause 
in Ohio. He was a good writer, also, and in early days he 
wrote much for our periodicals. 

THE BURDICKS. Asa Burdick. (1773—1868.)— 
From a sermon and a letter of D. E. Milliard, of Jackson, 
Mich., we gather the following particulars of this aged vet- 
eran. The sermon was preached by Elder Millard on the 
death of Father Burdick. Elder Burdick was born in Rhode 
Island, November 26, 1773. Was married to Miss Patty 
Cheeseboroug, in the town of Brooklyn, N. Y., November 26, 
1806. His wife died May 26, 1862, and the Elder died Jan- 
uary, 1868, in his eighty-fifth year. In 1806, he joined the 
Methodist Church, and eight months afterward, on beccoming 
acquainted with the Christians' he joined them and continued 
in that connection until death ; with the exception of a few 



72 BURDICK— BURK. 

years, he labored with the Seventh-Day Baptists. He was or- 
dained inBrooklin, Madison County, N. Y., October 10, 1817. 

In 1834, he moved to Michigan, and for nearly thirty years 
lived in the vicinity of Jackson. 

As a minister, he never made preaching his exclusive busi- 
ness, seldom had charge of a church, never received much re- 
muneration for his labors, and never kept a record of his work ; 
yet he had a place. He was very spiritual, devoted and cheer- 
ful, a great help in protracted meetings, and prompt in his at- 
tendance at the sessions of conference. Though old and in 
poor health, he was always welcomed by his brethren, and was 
missed by them when he went to his final home. 

E. P. Burdick. ( 1877.)— Elder Burdick was a 

member of the Tioga Christian Conference, Pa. S3rmon be- 
fore the Conference by Elder Cheseman. 

Henry Berger was one of those who withdrew with Elder 
O'Kelly from the Methodist Church in 1793. 

H. B. Burges. ( 1876.)--This brother died at Be- 

ment, 111., in 1876. He was then, and had been for several 
years a prominent member of the Illinois Central Christian Con- 
ference. In 1849, he lived in Henry, 111. He had com- 
menced preaching a short time before this. Soon after, he at- 
tended the Theological School at Meadville. From this time 
till his death, he was a prominent worker in the church. He 
was a man of more than ordinary talent, and was highly es- 
teemed by his brethren in the conference. He left a! widow 
and children. 

Abel BuRk. (1793— -1817.)— -This brother had a short 
race from the time of his conversion to his death. He was 
born in Windsor, Vt., in 1793, was converted in Woodstock 
under the preaching of Elder Frederick Plummer, and, to the 
surprise of many, he commenced preaching socn after. Soon, 
he became an efficient preacher, especially in revivals. Many 
date their conversion under God to the labors of this earnest 
man. While visiting his spiritual father, Elder Plummer, in 
the city of Philadelphia, Pa., he took the smallpox, and died 
there in a few days. He was buried in the grave-yard of the 
old Mt. Zion chapel. Scores of his fellow ministers, since 
1817, have read with solemnity the writing on that humb/e 



BURK— BURLINGAME. 73 

stone in the corner of the yard with the quaint expression of 
"his faith in God and the Christian connexion." His ag 
when he died, was twenty-four years. 



5 e > 



David Bitrk. (1779 — 1866.) — This brother amis born in 
1779, and died in Darlington, Canada West, August 9, 1866, 
near which place he had lived about seventy years. He had 
been preaching since 1800. First for the Baptist, next for the 
Disciples. In 1825, he joined the Christians, under the preach- 
ing of J. T. Bailey, and J. Blackmar. He assisted in the or- 
dination of Elder Seth Marvin. Was acquainted with Elder 
Thomas Henry for fifty-six years. Was in good circumstances-, 
and never took a dollar for his preaching. 

A BR AM BuRKET. ( 1878.) — This was an elderly 

minister, and a member of the Eel River Christian Conference. 
He died in 1878 or 79. 

THE BURLING AMES. Ambrose Burungame. (1804— 
1864.) — This minister was born in Sterling. Conn., in 1804. 
When a boy, his father moved toSmithfield, Bradford County, 
Penn. In this place, in youth, he experienced religion and soon 
after, while on a visit to his native state, he was baptized by 
his cousin, Elder James Burlingame, of Rhode Island. In 
1827, we Hud him full of fire, at a general meeting at Caro- 
line, N. Y. His preaching was powerful in the eon version of 
sinners. About this time, after preaching, on a rainy night, 
he lost his way in the woods, where he remained all night and 
took a severe cold. 

He married Miss Sally Chamberlaine, of Smithfield, Pa., 
where he labored about three years. In 1830, he moved back 
to Virgil, N. Y., and, some years later, to Parma, Monroe 
County, and preached in that and the surrounding counties 
to good acceptance for some time. Afterwards, he moved to 
Lyndonville, where he remained four or live years, and buried 
his beloved companion and two children. He was left with 
two small children, the remnant of his family, to fight the bat- 
tles of life alone, but he trusted in his Heavenly Father. At 
this time, he traveled extensively in Pennsylvania and New 
York. In August, 1848, he was married to Mrs. Margaret 
Howard, in Virgil, where he remained about four years, when 
he moved to Parma again, and from there to Chemung ; he 
traveled six months through the New England States. After 



4 BURLINGAME— B I RN I i A M. 

this, lie labored in Stafford, Parma, Virgil, and Haffbrd's Mills, 
where he died October 7, 1864, leaving a widow and the two 
■children of his first wife. 

From the above sketch, we see that the Elder wan a worker 
full of zeal and self-sacrifice. The forty years he spent in the 
ministry were years of constant labor and suffering ; yet we are 
told that he was always cheerful and happy in his lot, feeling, 
•doubtless that he was in the Master's service. 

P. M. Burlingame. — This minister was a member of the 
Southern New York Christian Conference, and died the year 
preceding the session of 1875. 

Nathan Burlingame. ( -1868.)-- From James 

Burlingame, a relation of our subject, I learn that Nathan was 
born in Sterling, Conn., was converted and baptized about 
1812, and moved to the Darby Plains, O., in June, 1817, with 
the Farnum company ; that lie and Farnum baptized over one 
hundred converts on the Plains and near Columbus in that 
summer, and among them two or three ordained ministers. 
Nathan returned to the East in October following, and died 
in Summerville, Conn., in 1868. Archilbald Bates describes 
him as tall and slim in his early days, and a slow and pointed 
speaker. Elder Long says of him, "He was a man of good 
talent, great mind, and a powerful orator." 

T. A. Burlingame. (1812— 1867.) — The "Herald" states 
that this brother w r as born in Windham, Conn., in 1812, 
moved to Bradford County, Pa., w-hen quite young, was or- 
dained at Smithfield, Pa., July 10, 1859, by E. Tyler, E. 
Curry, B. Palmer, and P. Sweet. He united with the Tioga 
River Christian Conference in 1855, and died in Smithfield, 
Pa., February 20, 1867, aged fifty-five years. 

THE BURNHAMS. Hezekiah Burnham. (1814—1870.) 
— This minister was born in Massachusetts in 1814, and died 
in New York City, on his way home from New Hampshire t 
•July 19, 1870, aged fifty-six years. Elder Clark, who sent an 
siccount of his death to the "Herald," says that he had been in 
the ministry about forty years. He wrote to our periodicals 
frequently, but his letters were always short and mainly treat- 
ng of one subject — the conversion of sinners. The first letter 
I can find from him is from Amesbury, Mass., February 27, 



BU&NHAM. 75 

1840. In that letter, he urges men, with a great deal of abil- 
ity, to he- more thoughtful of their future welfare. Another 
letter is from New Hampshire, December of the same year, 
adding to the previous subject the propriety of solemnly ex- 
amining the probability of the speedy coming of Christ. Two 
or three letters after this were written in the summer and fall 
of 1841, from Mason Corner, N. H. Great revivals are re- 
ported all around, and thirty or more had embraced religion 
in one meeting. In the summer and fall of 1842, from the 
same place, we have more earnest exhortions and more revi- 
vals with much of the Advent thoughts mixed in — showing 
that the Elder's mind was much impressed with the idea of 
the speedy coming of the Savior. When the time specified by 
the Adventists had passed and the prediction of the coming of 
Christ was not fulfilled, the Elder, like many others, gave up 
the Advent views, but lost nothing in zeal for the salvation of 
sinners. 

I believe it was in 1848 that he took charge of the church 
in Conneaut, O., and he continued this connection with that 
church for several years. After leaving Conneaut, he never 
stayed very long with any church, but traveled as few others 
have traveled. It was a common saying with him that he was 
not made for a pastor but for an evangelist. As a public 
Speaker, when tilings were moving to please him, his eloquence 
was wonderful. He was not noisy but powerful. The ser- 
mons I heard him deliver on such occasions were well prepared, 
and the language he used, though strong, was chaste, and the 
words were well selected. The gestures were nearly faultless, 
and his whcle manner was that of a man in deep earnest for 
the conversion of sinners. His whole soul seemed to reach out 
after his congregation. At such times, great solemnity perva- 
ded the whole asembly, and many were so entranced with the 
subject that for the time being they seemed to be unconscious 
of everything around. After such exertions, how T ever, he 
seemed to be thrown off his balance : and these Avere the times 
when he gave offense. 

His constant travel, exposure, and powerful and continued 
exertions in the pulpit wore on his nerves. The wonder m 
that he continued vigorous so long, for he w T as often ailing. It 
is probable that his sudden death on that hot day, in New 
York, was partly owing to his previou> labors. It is a pity 
that we have no record of the result of his ministry. The 
number of his converts must be thousands, and the number of 



76 BURNHAM— CADE. 

miles he traveled and the number of sermons that he preached 
must have been immense. He was a wonderful man, and 
when he died he left none like him. 

G. W. Busaed. ( 1869.)— This brother was a 

young minister, a member of the Tippecanoe Conference, Iud. ? 
and a son-in-law of Elder Elijah Tillman, of Logansport. He 
was born in Bedford County, Pa., moved to Indiana in 1840, 
was ordained in 1858, and died November 30, 1869. He was 
a young minister of great promise, and stood high with his 
brethren. 

D. Butler. — This minister was an active member of the 
North-western Ohio Conference. He died not far from 1860, 
James Buys. — This brother labored in Georgia in 1838. 

THE BUZZELLS. Steven D. Buzzell. (1796—1871.) 
— Steven was bora in X. H., in 1796, and commenced preaching 
about 1818. His fields of labor were mostly in Chemung, 
Cortland, Tomkius, Steuben, Wayne, and Chautauqua coun- 
ties, N. Y., and in Benton and adjoining counties in Iowa. 
On October 15, 1871, he died, in Palo, Iowa, in his seventy- 
sixth year. He was in the ministry fifty years, forty of which 
he devoted exclusively to preaching. About I860, he moved 
to Iowa, where he continued to the close of life, laboring faith- 
fully as far as age and infirmity would permit. 

William Buzzell. ( —1841.) — William labored in 

Xew Durham, X. H.,in 1815. He was buried in Middleton, 
June 16, 1841. 

Lewis Byeam. (1770 — 1834. ) — This brother had been an 
active worker for forty years before lie died. In 1834, he died 
in Paoli, Ind. 

Alexandeb Cabbage. (1787 — 1863.) — Alexander \\ as- 
born in East Tennessee, in 1787, and died near Brazil, Ind.. 
in 1863. He moved to Indiana about 1832, was converted m 
the same year, and was ordained about 1834. He labored 
mostly in Clay and surrounding counties in Indiana. He was 
local in his labors and limited in knowledge ; but he was a 
faithful minister and a good man. 

Isaac Cade. (1790—1844. — Isaac was born about 1790. 
In person, he was heavy set. He was esteemed a very good 
Christian of moderate talents. In his views, he was very jm>s- 
itive. He died in Union County, 0., about 1844. 



CALDWELL— CALL. 77 

W [lliam Caldwell. — This minister commenced preaching 

in Kentucky when quite young, and traveled through that 
state and Ohio visiting many churches. Finally, lie traveled 
as far as Bedford County, Pa., where he was married. He 
was the first to organize churches in that part of Pennsylvania. 
From Pennsylvania, he moved West. He was one of the 
four ministers ordained in the starting out of the denomination 
in Kentucky. He was a good preacher and a fine man. 

Daniel Call. ( 1867.;— The brother whose name 

heads this article is one in a thousand in the ministerial ranks. 
The Methodists had their Dow, other denominations have had 
their Boanerges, and we have had our Burnham, Mclntire, 
Doubleday, Andrews, Call, and others ; but of all our travel- 
ing evangelists, Call, in many respect*, stands entirely at the 
head. 

Of his birth and early education, we have no dates. But, 
from a letter in the "Palladium," in 1858, page 303, he gives 
a short account of his life and labors, from which we gather 
the following. He commenced preaching in the spring of 
1814 ; had held 10,000 meetings ; had seen 10,000 persons 
converted ; and for all this lal>or had received twenty-four hun- 
dred dollars, or something less than fifty-five dollars a year. 
Since 1841, in seventeen years, he had held 3,200 meetings, 
had seen 2,500 converted, and had received but $707. The 
letter referred to was sent to the editor of the ''Palladium," 
.and through him to the brotherhood in general, appealing 
for money to secure him a h(Hiie He was then in one. of those 
dark periods that occasionally came over him. He had been 
taken sick after a severe labor in New England, and was ap- 
prehensive that his labors on earth were drawing to a close. 

Instead of a small sketch, such as our limits will allow, a 
large volume could be filled with interesting reminiscences of 
the labors of this wonderful man. In April, 1836, we find 
him in Cornville, Milburn, and other places in the State of 
Maine, laboring under a full headway of reformation. Decem- 
ber, the same year, he was at Hannibal, Mentz, Sennet, Cam- 
ill us. and other places in New York ; reformation follows every- 
where, and the Elder is in his glory. In May, 1837, and 
January, 1838, we find that he had been in various places in 
the State of New York, and through Canada West ; reforma- 
tion following. December, the same year, he was in Philadel- 
phia with Elder Frederick Plumer. He had been through 



78 CALL. 

Pennsylvania, 2s ew Jersy, New York, Ohio, and farther west. 
Thus he continued through his ministerial life of about fifty-six 
years ; and yet in his old age he was very poor. 

As a specimen of the man I will insert here an extract of a 
letter published in a "Palladium" of 1845, page 255, to El- 
der Richards, of Michigan, concerning the money of some mis- 
sionary society, of which Call was an agent. The letter reads : 
"Brother Richards wants to know what to tell those who ask 
him about me. I send these few lines to inform him what I 
have done for them. It is now fourteen months since I left 
Michigan. I have traveled 2,000 miles, visited fifty-two 
churches, traveled in eight states, attended 416 meetings, 105* 
were converted, received $121:63, paid fifty-five dollars in 
traveling expenses — thirty of which I paid in visiting churches 
that I should not have visited had it not been for your cause. 
For visiting twenty-one of these churches, and holding seventy- 
four meetings I received twenty-five cents. I have received 
but five dollars missionary money. By this you may see what 
I have got by being your agent — twenty-five dollars out of poc- 
ket and only twenty-five cents for holding seventy-four meet- 
ings. I leave it for you and your preaching brethren to say 
how much I ought to have for my labor ; then add that with 
the $121.63 and then see if any preacher in Michigan has- 
made more sacrifice than I have for the missionary cause. In 
addition to the $121.63, I have received a very large salary of 
abuse, mostly from wicked men and priests." 

In summing up the life of this peculiar man I wish to say 
that of his goodness, zeal, and ability there is no doubt. Why,, 
then, had he so many enemies ? And why, with such talent, 
did he lay up nothing for sickness and old age ? Elder Call 
was a man of one idea, and while that idea was in his mind he 
lost sight of all others. He started out, doubtless, fully con- 
vinced that he was right, and that in some way God would 
take care of him. He was not alone in this way of thinking,, 
especially in his day. It is probable, also, that lie had no tact 
in financiering, and had no desire for money till it was needed. 
His manneiv was-peculiar — the manner of revivalists gener- 
ally. He had but little suavity. All lie saw in sinners was 
the need of a Savior, and he addressed and approached them 
in such a way as to often give offense. 

But his long, weary, and laborious life is ended. He rest* 
from his labors, and the God in whose service he labored will 
overlook the j>eculiarities that men could not tolerate ; and 



CALL— CARE: 7* 

though very- poor in his last years on earth, we believe he is 
high in glorv. Elder B. F. bummerbell states in the "Her- 
ald" of February 8, 1868, that Elder Call died of strangula- 
tion, in the Dutchess County poor-house, in the State of New- 
York, November 20, 1867. It is stated, however, that he 
might have had a home with his brethren. In the county 
house he had every attendance, and a room suited to Ids dis- 
eased condition. 

Thomas Campbell — Members of churches in Union and 
adjoining counties hrOhio speak of this brother laboring through 
that region about 1830. He came from Athens County, wast 
a man of ability and good education for the times, hut was in 
limited circumstances. 

THE CAPRONS. Jacob Cafbox, (1784— 1826-.)— Ja- 
cob was born in 1784, likely in Fulton County, N. Y., was or- 
dained in Broadalbin, and died in Henrietta, at the residence 
of Amos Ross, August 25, 1826, leaving a wife and seven chil- 
dren. The writers of that day speak highly of his talents and 
usefulness. In 1831, the Xew York Central Conference con- 
tributed means to build a monument over his grave, >n which 
was engraved in large letters his name ami some of the promi- 
nent motoes of the gospel he preached, all on the union of 
Christians as a fundamental doctrine of Elder ('apron's church. 

John Cabbon. (1772 — 1858.) — John was l)orn in Groton* 
Mass., March 2, 1772, moved to Danville, Yt., in 1797, em- 
braced religion in 1802, under the labors of Elder E. Palmer, 
and soon after l>egan to preach. At first, his labors were con- 
lined mostly to Danville and Peacham ; but in 1817, he 
moved to Mansfield, and labored there and at Calais and 
Cabot. In 1851, he moved to Stowe to live with his son, and 
continued there untill 1854, when he moved to Morristowu.. 
where he remained till death. November 23, 1858, he died, 
aged eighty-seven years. 

It is said of him that he was deep, accurate, and very ear- 
nest in all his statements, and a strong advocate of the doc- 
trines of his own church. 

Thomas Cabb. (1798 — 1876.) — Thomas was bom August 
31, 1798, in Virginia, and moved to Ohio with his parents m 
t'816. He professed religion, rnl was baptize* 1 during a meet- 



-80 . CARE— CASE. 

ing held by Elders Nathan Worley and John Dudley in 1823, 
In Southern Ohio. In 1843, he was ordained by Elders Wor- 
ley and Plummer. In an early day, he moved irom Ohio and 
settled in Liberty, Ind., where he continued many years, car- 
rying on a blacksmith shop and preaching to the church at 
Silver Creek, near his home. He preached for this church 
more than twenty years, and for the church at Hannah's Creek 
many years. In 1854, he moved to Crawfordsville, where he 
continued till his death, which took place April 1, 1876, of 
heart disease. During his stay here of twenty-two years, he 
was useful as a prominent member of the Western Indiana 
Conference. He was a leading man in that part of the coun- 
try. 

Elder Carr was a large, heavy man in his latter years. He 
was a great reader, had a retentive memory, and was very in- 
teresting in conversation. His house was tire natural home of 
traveling ministers, first in Liberty, the county seat of Union, 
then in Crawfordsville, the county seat of Montgomery. He 
&m} his wife were in good circumstances in their latter years, 
and were liberal with their means in the advancement of the 
•cause of Christ. 

THE CASES. Henry Cask. ( — 1860.)— Thig 

■minister was formerly from Steuben County, N. Y. , and was 
for several years a member of the Northern Illinois and Wis- 
consin Conference. He died, after a short illness, at Leroy, 
111., June 7, 1860, leaving a wife and three children. He is 
termed one of the ''valient few" in the ministry. 

John Case. (1788 — 1867.) — This brother was a member 
• of the New T York Central Conference, but in 1846, he joined 
the Erie. He was born in 1783, was ordained at Arcadia, N 
Y., September 2, 1826, by Elder E. Shaw and others. He 
then went to Winchester, N. Y. He died on May 14, 1867 
.at Greemvood, N. Y., eighty-four years old. His writings are 
lively, spirited, and positive, as if he knew what he w T as about. 
Those who knew him well speak of him as a strong defender 
of the doctrines of the church. 

Titus Case. — This minister was a member of the Central 
•Ohio Conference. He was a fine-looking, steady, solemn man, 
well respected by all who knew him. Like many of our early 
anainisters, he was a farmer, and made a o-ood living for his 



CASE— CATOK 81 

family by his labor. He was quite libera] with his means. 
As for his preaching talents, it is not probable that he was a 
fluent speaker ; yet his character was such that he was a firm 
pillar in the church. In his will, he left part of his property 
for the use of his own conference. 

Thomas Cason. (1793 — 1855.) — Thomas was born in 
South Carolina, January, 1793. When he was young, his pa- 
rents moved to Ohio. He was married to Mary Pearson, and 
soon after, was converted, and commenced preaching among the 
Baptists. About this time, he moved with his family to Union 
County, Ind., where his wife died, leaving him alone with six 
children. In 1823, he married his second wife, Amelia Els- 
ton, with whom he lived happily for many years. They had 
fifteen children. In 1841, there was a division in the Baptist 
Church on the subjects of close communion, total depravity, 
Trinity, etc. The Elder took the liberal side, and in 1843, 
joined the Cole Creek (now Western Indiana) Conference. 
In this conference he continued an active member till 1847, 
when he moved to Madison County, Iowa, where he soon or- 
ganized the first Christian Church in that county. September 
8, 1854, while in very poor health, he joined the Desmoines 
Conference. He was conveyed to the church in a bed for that, 
purpose, and made an affecting address, when received. Dec- 
ember 27, 1854, he died, in his sixty-second year. His edu- 
cation was limited, but he was very successful as a preacher, 
and many hundreds were converted through his labors during 
the thirty years of his ministry. 

Jacob Cassett. — This brother died in some part of the 
West before J<S2o. 

< >liver CastLe. — This pioneer minister moved with his 
family to Hartland, X. Y., and died in the work. 

William T. Catox. ( 1871.) — In 1843, this min- 
ister announced through the "Palladium" the dedication of a 
meeting-house at Westbury, N. Y. In 1847, he is settled as 
a pastor of the church at Honeyoe Falls. In March, 1856, he 
is at Arcadia with Hezekiah Burnham, assisting in a pro- 
tracted meeting, with seventy converts forward for prayer. 
He died March 25, 1871, not far from fifty years of age. At 
the time of his death, he had been in the ministry for thirty 
years. 



82 CHADWICK. 

Jabez Chadwick. (1779 — 1857.) — The subject of this 
sketch was, in many respects, a peculiar man. He was not a 
great preacher. Perhaps his early training and his close study 
had, in a measure, cramped the off-hand delivery so essential 
to the orator. But what he lacked in rousing the multitude r 
he made up, fully, in deep research. Naturally, he was a 
student, a conscientious seeker after truth, and no worldly 
gain or popularity kept him from following wherever it led 
him. 

The Elder was born in Lee, Mass., August 14, 1779. He 
embraced religion at the age of thirteen, and commenced 
preaching with the Congregationalists June, 1800. He was 
ordained December following, and at the same time settled as 
a pastor in Salem, Conn. After serving the church faithfully 
for many years, he moved with his family to Camillus, N. Y., 
where he was settled over two Presbyterian congregations. A 
Christian minister, Elder O. E. Morrill first formed an ac- 
quaintance with Elder Chadwick in this place, in 1822. His 
first break from the Presbyterians was his change of views on 
the mode of baptism. With this change, as might be expected T 
he joined the Baptists, and continued in their fellowship sev- 
eral years, highly respected as a scholar and a useful minis- 
ter. In consideration of his learning, Hamilton College con- 
fered on him, during this time, the honorary degree of A. M. 
Before 1838, Calvinism, Creeds, Trinity, etc. gave him much 
trouble ; so, true to his conscience, he announced his convic- 
tions, and, though with a sick wife and in limited circumstan- 
ces, he left a good salary and went out, not knowing where to 
find a home. In June, 1838, he joined the New York West- 
ern Christian Conference, and continued a faithful member of 
the denomination to the end. 

His sickness was short — only one week. He died at En- 
held Center, N. Y., February 20, 1857, aged seventy-eight 
years. For the last twenty years of his life, Elder Chadwick 
was one of the most zealous, diligent, and active ministers in 
the denomination. It is astonishing to see the amount of la- 
bor he performed, and this, also, among a people new to him., 
differing with him in many important particulars. In all the 
general measures of the denomination, the Elder was ready 
with pen and tongue to encourage all. It is seldom we open 
a periodical of those twenty years that he was connected with 
the Christians but that we find the name of Jabez Chadwick. 
His articles were often verv short, a mere statement of what 



CHADWICK. 83 

he desired to say, with no exordium or conclusion. I have 
no statement of all his published works during this time, but 
they were many. None were very large. The "Bible Dic- 
tionary," a dollar lx>ok of about 400 pages, was the largest of 
his works. 

The activity of this aged man was shown by his constantly 
issuing from the press a pamphlet, a sermon, or a tract, one af- 
ter the other in quick succession, and this in the midst of par- 
ochial duties, missionary work, protracted meetings, and al 
ways in limited circumstances. 

As stated, he was in perfect harmony with the Christians oil 
the main subject of Theology ; but on many side issues, he dif- 
fered -widely from the main body of the denomination ; but., 
with all his mild, clear, and voluminous publications, he never 
became an authority in matters of a doctrinal nature as Millard, 
Badger, Clough, and others. He was respected by all, and 
was considered an able writer and expounder of Scripture, es- 
pecially was his "Bible Dictionary" considered an able work ; 
but to his views on the "Destruction of the wicked." "The son- 
ship of Christ," etc. he never carried many away, 

Dwelling on the passage in Rev. 3: 14, where the son is- 
called "the beginning of the creation of God" the Elder taught 
that Christ was the son of God by creation, not by derivation., 
pre-existent as to his spirit, and, in due time r incarnate for 
man's redemption. He believed, also, in the final destruction 
of the wicked — Key. 20: 6. It is not strange that he held 
speculative views not commonly held by the Christian world- 
All his life, he had lx>en a hard thinker. Speculative and fig- 
urative expression had been as tangible t<> him in early life as 
the most practical duties of Christ's teaching. 

In early life, the Elder had an insatiable thirst for knowl- 
edge. He was willing to work at anything honorable to ob- 
tain his end. He worked for a mechanic for very low wages 
to pay his tuition until -qualified to teach a common school- 
When qualified for this, he taught with avidity, and devoted 
all the proceeds to his own education. When he had acquired 
a good English education, he studied Greek, Latin, and The- 
ology under Dr. Alvin Hyde, a Congregational minster, ha 
his own parish. He was ordained to preach by the Calvinists 
of New England, in 1800. .Standing upon the premises of 
his own confession of faith, there is no wonder that the inquis- 
itive young minister should strike right and left to find deliver- 
ance. No wonder that in shunning the theory that God pv.Br- 



84 CHADWICK. 

ished the little children of the non-elect he should not stop 
till he had the wicked struck out of existence. It is a consol- 
ing wonder, however, to see this aged thinker, scholar, and 
writer, with views differing materially from those of his new al- 
lies, when few of these possessed learning equal to his own, so 
meek in all his utterances. He was positive in all his declar- 
ation, yet, such was his clear understanding of the hasis of 
Christian union, he never imposed his views upon others, nor 
did he resort to special pleadings in his own defence. One pe- 
culiarity of his controversial writings is the candor with which 
he treats an opponent. 

The following are a few of his articles published in our peri- 
odicals from 1838 to 1856. June, 1838, he writes from Me- 
dina, X. Y., reviewing an article on the Trinity. In July, 
the same year, he gives his views of the Christians, his new 
friends whom he had lately joined. He had visited sev- 
eral churches of the connexion, and gives his impression of 
their position. In November, he reviews Mr. Myrick of the 
'"Union Herald" for his intollerant spirit in excluding honest 
Non-Trinitarians from the pale of the church. March, 1839, 
he replies to Justitia on the nature of punishment. In the 
r?ame year, in several articles, he gives his reasons for reject- 
ing the Trinity. In 1841, he labors in Union Springs, and 
reports a good revival there. In 1847, he writes on his re- 
turn from Oshawa, Canada, where he had been laboring in 
the office of the "Christian Luminary." He urges the Chris- 
tian brethern to return the intollerant spirit of sectarianism 
with the mild spirit of Christian forgiveness. In 1848, he 
writes a very sensible article on the support of the ministry, 
taking the ground that the defect is not so much with the laity 
as with the ministry. His remedy is, that ministers show 
themselves workmen and the people will appreciate their worth, 
and will willingly pay for the labor. June, 1849, he writes to 
announce to his subscribers how he intends to proceed in the 
preparation of his "Bible Dictionary" in regard. to those doc- 
trines wherein he differs with the church. Generally, his 
plan is to give both sides of the argument, and leave himself 
out of the question. In the same year, he appeals to the pub- 
lic in behalf of the small society at Union Springs. In 1852, 
he has a. written discussion with Elder H. Grew in regard to 
the "Kingdom," and similar subjects. In 1853, he writes a 
vjry interesting letter upon the support of learned and un- 
J arned men in the denomination, and especially on the folly 



CHADWICK— CHAPMAN. 85 

of nut supporting those of limited education, and thus driving- 
them to other occupation for a living, and crippling them for 
all future time ; wheras, if liberally supported at first, they 
would acquire knowledge sufficient to become very useful 
men. 

I will here give the substance of an article on "Free Dis- 
cussion," published in July, 1852, — the necessity and danger 
of the same. After showing that discussion must be free or 
else there is an end to all investigation for knowledge, he pro- 
ceeds to show the great evil that grows from the abuse of this 
right. "What 1 wish suppressed." he says, "is too much and 
unnecessary harshness of expression, severe criticism, imputa- 
tion of unworthy, and even base motives to one's antagonist, 
aspiration of pride and jealousy, fears that others may out-do 
or out-shine us. uncomfortable anticipations of the unfavorable 
light in which other denominations and the learned public? 
may hold our acquisition and standing and whatever savors <>f" 
boasting, self-confidence, and worldly-mindedness." He thni 
proceeds to show much of that among us at the time, and t" c , 
in a fatherly spirit, appeals to all combatants to value free >i - 
cussion too highly to endanger its continuance by indulging in 
those errors. 

In conclusion, it is evident that Elder Chadwick was an unr! 
assuming, humble, sincere, pious, and good man. His com- 
ing to the Christians, although at the advanced age of fifty- 
eight years, was a great advantage to the body ; and ir was 
equally advantageous to the Elder that he found a body whose 
views so nearly coincided with his own. 

Edwin (ifvffix. — Elder Chaffiu was a member of the VVa- 
b.ish Conference, and died about 1848. 

Joh>- Milton Chalmers. (1820- — 1 ^.32. » — This minister 
A\as born in Albion, Me., in 1820. He commenced preaching 
in 1840. He preached more or less in Skowhegan, Palmyra., 
Dixmont, Plymouth, and Troy, Me., and in Wells and Xew 
Castle, X. H. It was while laboring at the latter place that 
his health failed, so that he was compiled to retire from act- 
ive service. He departed this life March 18, 1852. 

Amos Chapman. 1843.,— In May, 1835, Elder 

Chapman was in Jasper, X. Y., in a great revival, where lie 
was baptizing many. He died about the first of February, 



m CHAPMA N— CH ASK. 

1813, after a short illness. The Sunday before, he delivered 
a* powerful exhortation to the church of his charge at Spring- 
water, X. Y. 

Ezra Chase. (1783 — 1873.) — This brother was born in 
-Fredericktown, N. Y., October 11, 1783, was converted in 
1796, was licensed to preach in 1808, and was ordained in 
1820. At first, he was a minister of the Methodist denomina- 
tion, but in 1822, he left that body and joined the Chris- 
tians. For many years, he was pastor of the Christian Church 
sit Enfield, N. Y., then considered by such men as Badger, 
and Millard as the strongest church in that part of the state ; 
and Elder Chase was one of the most prominent ministers. In 
April, 1833, Elder Badger gives an account of a conference 
being. held in the church in Enfield, where the pastor's son, 
-John B. Chase, was set apart to the work of the ministry. 

Elder Millard speaks of Elder Chase's gray locks and ven- 
erable appearence, and that he felt a great reverence for his 
presence. The Elder died at Enfield Center, N". Y., March 
~21 , 1873, in his ninetieth year. 

In addition to the above, we have the following — the sub- 
stance of a letter from his son, Elder John B. Chase. From 
boyhood up, Elder Chase was deeply inun-essed with the lead- 
ing of the Spirit of God. At one time, when preaching among 
the Methodists, about the middle of his sermon he w T as im- 
pressed to give an invitation for seekers ; but, failing to do so 
liis mind became darkened. At his next appointment, he was 
similarly impressed ; when he obeyed, seven or eight came for- 
ward, and great good was accomplished. 

Early in life, he married Elizabeth Byington, in West Ches- 
ter County, N. Y., of whom he had six children. In 1817, he 
tmried her, and some years later married Julia Curry. April, 
1820, there was a meeting held in Hector, his home at that 
time, when he was ordained a Christian minister. The meet- 
ing was largely attended, and much stir was manifested on ac- 
count of several ministers beside the Elder changing their ec- 
clesiastical relation. 

Elder Chase moved to Enfield when the church was very 
weak ; but, through his labors, it became a strong body. In 
1868 and 1871, when the Elder was eighty-five and eighty - 
cight years old, respectively, there were reunions held at his 
house, and in 1872, the New York Central Christian Con- 
ference was held in Enfield. The Elder was present, and was 



CHASE— €LARK. 87 

addressed, by order of conference, by Elder Keyes Coburn. In 
sill these meetings, the old patriarch looked well in the midst 

of his brethren. He died in 1873, at the ripe age of ninety 
years. 

Israel Chesley. (1788 — 1866. I — From a letter of Miss O. 
< 1. Chesley, a daughter of the deceased, and from an obituary 

notice by Elder D. P. Pike, I gather the following items con- 
cerning this father in Israel. Israel Chesley was born in Dur- 
ham, N. H, November 24, 1788. He was the eleventh child 
of his parents, bur the first to embrace religion. In February, 
1810, he was converted at the beginning of an extensive revi- 
val, and at once became an. active worker in the cause. April 
following, he was baptized by Elder Osborne, in Durham. A 
journal of his, of that date, reads, "I had such freedom in ex- 
hortation and prayer that I could truly say that 4 I gloried in 
the Gospel of Christ.' " October 14, 1812, he was married to 
Elizabeth Folsom, daughter of Colonel John Folsom, in New 
Market, of whom he had seven children. His journal of 1814 
shows the pressure upon his mind to sacrifice all for Christ. 
Under these impressions, he exchanged property with his bro- 
ther at a great sacrifice, and moved with his family to Roch- 
ester, where he labored constantly wherever an opening was 
made. 

July 11, 1816, he was ordained in Lee. and united with the 
Christian Church. Sermon by Elder Osborne. He was re- 
markably led by the Spirit, all through life. He remained in 
Rochester one year, when he moved to Lee. His labors in 
the ministry were very extensive. During his life, he preached 
1,500 funeral sermons — a labor to which he was well adapted 
because of his sympathetic spirit. He baptized many, and 
married one thousand couples. He died September 29, 1866. 
Elder Chesley was a man of mild and loving spirit. He 
was benevolent and kind to all, but very unassuming in his 
acts of generosity. In his early days, he wrote frequently to 
our periodicals, but in latter years he wrote but little. His 
labors were mostly confined to the State of New Hampshire, 
but his name, for years, was well known to the denomination. 
Funeral sermon by A. G. Morton. 

THE CLARKS. Isaac Clark.— R. M. Thomas says 
that this brother died in Fountain County. Ind., a few years 
ago. aged seventy-five years. 



f>% CLARK— CLOUCEL 

Jeptha Clark. — This was an aged minister who died fa 
Scott, N. Y., m 1836. He was a devoted preacher for many 
years, and did much to build up the cause in the field of his 
labor. 

John Clark. (1802— 1870.)— A "Herald" of February, 
1876, states that this minister was born in Broadalbin, N. Y., 
October 24, 1802, and died at Union Mills January 31, 1876. 
He was baptized by Elder King October 12, 1817, and, for 
many years, was publisher of the "Palladium." He was a tine 
singer, and taught music. Later in life, he became a preacher, 
and continued to labor till 1874, when his health failed. 

KrcHARD Clark. (1781 — 1814.) — This brother was a 
useful minister in the church. He was a man of talent and 
education, firm in his convictions, of good morals and fine de 
livery. He was born in 1781, died in 1814, and was buried 
in West Liberty, O. From 1805 to 1808, he labored in and 
around Burlington. His home, in the latter part of his life, 
was in Champaign County, O. He was a strong advocate of 
system in the work of the church. 

Simon Clough. (179;) — 1844.) — The subject of this 
sketch was, in many resects, one of the leading men of his 
church, and it is a wonder to many that a full biography of 
his life, has not been published long ago. There is material 
sufficient to compile an interesting book of biography. From 
a sketch of his life, by Elder Morgridge, 1 gather the follow- 
ing. Simon Clough was born in Monmouth, Me., March 5, 
1793. His father, Benjamin Clough, had three children — one 
daughter and two sons. Simon was the second son. His early 
life was spent on the farm with his father, and, like all New 
England boys, he went to school in the winters. In the fall 
of 1812, wdien nineteen years old, he attended the Monmouth 
Acadainy one term, and taught school the following winter. 
While teaching in Augusta, he made a profession of religion. 
Subsequently, he went to Boston, Mass., intending to engage 
in business ; but he soon returned to Hebron, Me., where he 
was baptized in 1817, and immediately commenced preaching. 
In November, the same year, he was ordained as an evange- 
list, and immediatly entered on the work in the vicinity, or- 
ganizing several churches. 

In 1817, he moved to Export, and continued to labor there 



CLOUGH 89 

through the winter. From that place, he went to Portland, 
then to Boston, Mass., where he became pastor of the church— 
a position which he sustained about five years. In 1824, he 
left Boston, went to New York, and organized the first Chris- 
tian Church in that city. In New York, he labored about 
nine years. During this time, he was married. His wife died 
in a few years. At this time, also, he edited the "Gospel Lu- 
minary." In the autumn of 1833, he settled in Fall Elver, 
Mass., where he labored with great success for about three 
years. From Fall River, he went to New Jersey, where he 
had great success in his ministry. November 24, 1841, Elder 
Clough was a second time married, this time to Mrs. Minerva 
Howell, of New York, which proved a very happy union. He 
died at his residence, 201 Broom St., New York, May 20, 
1844, aged fifty-one years. He had been in the ministry 
twenty-seven years. 

The above is an outline of the labors and removals of Elder 
Clough. The Elder was a large man, though not tall. His 
physical powers had been well developed, in his early life, on 
his father's farm. When twenty-one years of age, his father 
informed him that, as his older brother was to continue on the 
place, he (Simon) might choose any pursuit he pleased — he 
was free. About this time, while a great epidemic was raging 
in the community, and many were dying, Simon was sitting 
up with a dying comrade. When about to depart in the morn- 
ing, the dying man asked him where they would meet next. 
This made such an impression on Simon's mind that he made 
up his mind to acquire an education, and devote his entire life 
to the work of the ministry. With this subject in view, he 
went to school and taught, alternately. But, while at the He- 
bron Academy, he overreached the mark ; for, while studying 
hard, — reading the Greek Testament by day and by night, — 
he injured his eyes so much that it was a long time before he 
could read. This was the time he went to Boston with the in- 
tention of engaging in business ; and when, like Jonah, he felt- 
that he was running away from duty and had to return. 

From this time, he never turned to right or left, but pressed 
right along in the path of duty. Still, his path was not a 
smooth one, as the following circumstance will show. His 
first sermon, at Portland, was a failure. He was then consid- 
ered the best educated minister in the connexion, and the re- 
port having been circulated that a young man of learning was 
to address the congregation, expectation was on tip-toe. The 
6 



m CLOUGH. 

Elder took his text and paused. He went on a little longer, 
then paused again, doing so several times. Then he said, 
"'When I took my text, it was very dark, and it has been 
growing darker and darker all along. I can not preach." He 
then sat down, bathed in tears, and continued so during the 
-entire night. 

As a pastor and preacher, Elder Clough had few superiors. 
Add to this his upright, moral, and devoted life and it is no 
wonder that great success attended his labors. In Boston, he 
raised the church from a small body to a flourishing congrega- 
tion. In Fall River, his success was still greater. From a 
^small congregation, which he had when he went there, he soon 
had a full house ; and, during his labors there of three years, 
two hundred and seventeen were added to the church — firm 
.and reliable members. In New York, his labors were blessed 
with the building up of a respectable church in that city. As 
for New Jersey, all through the churches there were great in- 
gatherings, and many new churches were organized in that 
.^tate, through his instrumentality. 

As a writer, however, the Elder exercised particular power. 
In early life, he had stored his mind with such knowledge as 
was taught in the academies he attended. Since that, and all 
through life, indeed, he w T as an intense student, His position, 
also, in such places as Boston and New York, the heacl centers 
of books and papers, was favorable to him in this direction. 
The "Gospel Luminary" was edited by him, and he made a 
good periodical of it, though some of the numbers w r ere written 
mostly by himself. As long as he lived, he was a writer to all 
•our papers. "The Select Works of Elder S. Clough" is a 
book so well known to our people that I need say nothing* in 
its' favor. Looking upon the entire written work of the Elder, 
in the short period of about twenty years, in the midst of 
pressing parochial duties, we almost wonder at their amount, 
iind especially at their thoroughness in style and matter. 

In his social relations, Elder Clough was affable, kind, and 
sympathetic, though, owing to his studious habits, and entire 
consecration to his work, on first acquaintance, he had the ap- 
pearance of coldness. His first marriage was not a happy one, 
Jbut his goodness and entire self-government, which he had 
practiced through life, carried him through this period with no 
diminution of his reputation as a minister. His second mar- 
riage, with Mrs. Howell, who had one. daughter, and who had 
been a widow four years when he married her, was a very 



CLOUGH— COBB. 91 

happy cue. The daughter of Mrs. Clough, Minerva Ann 
Howdll, became at once a great favorite with the Elder, and, 
as a token of his high regard for this young lady's education 
.and taste, he willed her his entire library. 

In conclusion, I will offer a few thoughts on letters published 
by him between the year 1834 and 1842. In February, 1834, 
writing from Fall River, Mass., he gives a vivid account of a 
great awakening in various places in New England. His de- 
scriptions are most lively, as if his whole soul was enlisted. 
February, 1839, he writes from Boston in regard to a book of 
sermons, contemplated to be published at that time, and men- 
tions twenty-five or more sermons of his own production that 
are at the service of the brethren. November, the same year, 
he writes from New Jersey, giving an account of hundreds of 
-conversions in various places through the state — one hundred 
■converted at one meeting. A year later, (November, 1840, ) 
the revival in New Jersey continues unabated. January, 
1841, he writes of the failure to debate on the part of a Mr. 
Fay, who had boasted his readiness to meet these Arians at 
any time. April, the same year, the revival still continues 
through New Jersey, and five or six meeting-houses were be- 
ing built by the Christians in different places. October, 1841, 
he gives a very full account of a debate between Mr. Matti- 
.son, Methodist, and P. Hawk, Christian, where Mattison takes 
the whole matter in his own hands, refusing a board of moder- 
ators. November of the same year, he writes a very interest- 
ing communication on the wants of the Christians — a Univer- 
sity, a Biblical School, and a Commentary of the Bible suited 
to the Christian Church. He urges the necessity of a general 
meeting of the whole denomination for the purpose of maturing 
plans for the accomplishment of this work. July, 1842, he 
writes of his declining health, and of consulting a promi- 
nent physician who pronounced his disease, dropsy on the 
<chest, but feels hopeful that the disease is yielding to the rem- 
edy. 

From the above, we see what a loss it was to the denomi- 
nation Avhen he died in the prime of manhood ; and it was s . 
felt through the entire church. 

Elias Cobb. (1776— 1838.)— Elias was born in Middle- 
bury, Mass., in 1767, and early in life joined the Baptist 
Church. He was a minister among the Baptists for some time, 
In Woodstock, Vt. When the first Christian Church wa-s or- 



92 COBB— COLBY. 

ganized iu Woodstock, he was one of the first to join it. He 
continued in that connexion till death, an active, firm, and 
prominent man in the denomination. At first, his labors were 
bestowed on the churches around Woodstock ; but later, he 
moved to West Randolph, and, later still, to Braintree, the 
same state, where he died February 15, 1838, aged seventy- 
one years. 

By trade, he was a blacksmith. He also had a farm, and 
worked at both occupations. He was social and kind in his 
intercourse, always urging the claim of religion. His good- 
ness and zeal in the church gave him a leading position among 
his neighbors. 

William Coe. — This minister was a brother of J. H. Coe, 
of New Bedford, Mass. William had been laboring, in his 
early ministry, at two different times, in the State of New 
York among the more destitute churches, and there lost his 
health. In 1834. he writes that he had not seen a well day 
for five years. He was in Portland, Me., having charge ot 
the church left destitute by the death of Elder Samuel Band. 
Elder Coe had been near unto death, but the gospel he had 
preached made him strong to face the tomb. Eider Moses 
Howe and others speak highly of this brother as a zealous man. 
Though often in poor health, he was very cheerful and fond of 
innocent jokes. Elder Luther Baker and he were well 
matched in this respect, both jovial but true and faithful men. 

Fredrick Cogswell. (1792 — 1857) — This minister was 
born in 1792, and died in Memphis, Tenn., August 4, 1857. 
He was married to Hannah Peavy, sister of Elders John and 
Edward Peavy. His wife, also, Avas a public speaker, and for 
many years the two traveled in company, preaching as they 
went, and doing much for the upbuilding of the cause. Their 
names are generally signed together, and Elder Cogswell, in 
most of his letters, uses the pronoun "we," while speaking of 
the meetings held. They traveled extensively in different 
places, but mostly in New Hampshire, and their letters were 
generally dated at Durham, in that state. Great revivals fol- 
lowed their labors, and they doubtless did much to build up 
the church of their choice. 

J. T. G. Colby. (1796— 1877.)— This brother was born in 
Exeter, N. H., in 1796, commenced preaching at York, Me., 
was ordained in Durham, N. H., May 27, 1827, and died in 



COLBY— CONCANNON. 93 

Dover, N. H., June 5, 1877. Until! 1832, he preached as 
an evangelist in New Hampshire and Canada East ; at this 
time, he located at Wolf borough, X. H., where he remained 
till 1850 ; then he labored six years at West Milton ; then, 
on account of failing health, he located at Dover. He was a 
good citizen and a faithful minister. 

THE COLES. A. Cole. — Tins brother was an aged min- 
ister in the Miami Reserve Conference, Ind., and died in 1876. 

Timothy Cole. (1806—1866.) — Timothy was born at 
LandaHTN: H., September 6, 1806, was converted in 1826, 
and was baptized by Elder A. C. Morrison. He commenced 
preaching soon after, and was ordained at Alton, N. H., in 
1828. He died at Lakeville. X. H., January 18, 1869, aged 
sixty-three years. For many years, Elder Cole was one of 
our most prominent ministers in New England. In Lowell, 
Mass., by his untiring labor, he built a very large church, 
mostly from the operatives of the mills. In those days, he 
wrote frequently to our periodicals, and his writings show con- 
siderable ability. When the Advent excitement came around, 
from 1840 to 1848, the Elder went into it with all his might. 
After the failure of his expectations, he, like many others, 
seemed at a loss how to proceed. For a while, he did but lit- 
tle, but finally he commenced preaching again ; but his mind 
was divided, his ardor and zeal was, in a measure, gone ; yet 
his death was mourned by his brethren. Elder Cole was con- 
sidered a good and able man. 

George Collins. (1787 — 1852.) — This minister [was a 
resident of Scituate, R. I., for some time. He was born in 
1787. and died February 15, 1852. He is spoken of as a suc- 
cessful and faithful worker. 

Nathan Comer. ( 1868.) — This brother was a li- 
centiate minister in the Miami Reserve Conference, Ind., and 

died in 1868 

THE CONCANXONS. Thomas Concannon. (1800— 
1856.) — Thomas was born in Montgomery County, O., Septem- 
ber 2, 1800. He was quite wild, and was a ringleader of com- 
rades like himself. In 1820, he and his gang attended a Meth- 
-oriist camp meeting in the neighborhood, and, to increase the 



94 CONCANNON— CONKLIN. 

amusement, Thomas proposed that they should go to the altar 
for fun. By some mysterious influence, they were all con- 
verted. Thomas soon after joined the Christians. From this 
time to 1841 he had a constant struggle with his own convic- 
tions about preaching. In 1821, he was married to Miss Pol- 
ly Morgan, near Dayton, and soon after, moved to Tippecanoe 
County, Ind., where he engaged in mercantile pursuits, made 
money, became security for another, and lost all his property. 
He moved to Laport, Ind., bought a farm on time, suffered 
much from sickness, and finally his faithful wife died,, 
leaving him with six small children. He finally lost his farm. 
During all these afflictions the voice of conscience cries, "Woe 
is me if I preach not the gospel." He finally yields, and, in 
his forty-third year, takes up the work of preaching in earnest. 
He became very successful at once, but the country being new 
his support was meager and expenses large. 

In 1846, he was married to a widow lady, Rhoda Williams, 
who had four small children. He moved to Pulaski County, 
Ind., clearing a new farm, preaching to four churches quite- 
distant from each other, supporting a family of a wife and 
twelve children, and studying by fire-light to prepare his ser- 
mons for the ensuing Sunday. In June, 1856, he started to. 
Iowa, intending to settle in Madison County, that state. While' 
moving, he took a violent cold, from the effect of which he 
died December 27, 1856, near Winterset, Iowa, in his fifty- 
seventh year. 

William Concannon. (1825 — 1853.) — William, a son of 
the preceding minister, was born in 1825, was ordained in 
1854, and died in 1857. He was a young man of modest and 
retiring disposition, but was highly respected by his brethren,. 
He was a member of the Tippecanoe Conference, Ind. 

Abel P. Coxdea. ( 1869.) — This brother was a 

licensed member of the Spoon River Illinois Conference, and; 
died in 1869. 

James Conklin, Jr. (1817 — 1841.) — This young brotlur 
was born in 1817, and died at East Berne, N. Y., April 7 r 
1841, in his twenty-fourth year. He had been pastor of th& 
church in East Berne for eighteen months at the time of his- 
death. He was highly respected by the church and congrega- 
tion. 



COOK— COOPER 95 

THE COOKS. Ammon Cook was a minister of great use- 

fulliiess in the Miami Reserve conference, Ind. He was for- 
merly from some of the Eastern States. He died about 1869. 
not far from sixty years of age. He was highly respected by 
all who knew him. 

Benjamin Cook. (1807 — 1842.) — Benjamin was born 
near 1807, began preaching in Canada about 183*2, and was 
quite successful, especially in reformation. He died at Pick- 
ering, Canada, about 1842, thirty-five years old. He was a 
good and useful man. 

John Cook. (1810 — 1865.) — The subject of this sketch 
was born in 1818, was converted in 1888, and soon commenced 
his labors as a minister in Portland ville, X. Y. In 1842, he 
was ordained, and, in the same year, moved to Cobleskill Cen- 
ter, the same state. He died in Avon, X. Y.. February 19, 
1865. 

M. W. Cook. (1788 — 1869.) — This aged In-other died in 
Albion, Ind., December 1, 1869, a superannuated member of 
the Eel River Conference, Ind., at the time of his death. He 
was born in 1788, commenced preaching among the Freewill 
Baptists about 1823, and continued with them about forty 
years, laboring in Canada, Xew York, Ohio, and Michigan. 
In 1863, he joined the Eel River Indiana Christian Conference. 
in which he labored till death. He was a man of great phys- 
ical strength, and continued vigorous in his old age. 

Peter Cook. (1797 — 1877.) — This aged minister was a 
native of Vermont. He was born in 1797, moved West in 
1814, and began to preach in 1823. He continued to preach 
regularly till 1874, when his health failed. He died June 8. 
1877. 

Joseph Green Cooper. i 1800 — 1855.) — This brother 
was born near Owensville, Kv. , December 10, 1800. He was 
converted when sixteen years old, under the labors of Elder 
James Hughes, and was baptized by the same. Soon after, 
his father's family moved to Wayne County, Ind., where, on 
August 22, 1822, Joseph was united in marriage with Eliza- 
beth Leonard. In 1826, he moved to Henry County, where 
he began to preach. In 1833, he moved to Bartholomew 



96 COOPER— CR AM. 

County, and, in 1837, was ordained as an evangelist by Elders 
David Douglass and John Crafton. He labored as an evan- 
gelist the greater, part of his life, traveling extensively in Bar- 
tholomew and adjoining counties in Indiana, and many were 
converted under his preaching. He was a member of the Cen- 
tral Conference, Indiana. In 1847, he moved to Clark Coun- 
ty, 111., in poor health, but labored considerably in the bounds 
of the Southern Illinois Conference, of which he was a clerk. 
In 1853, for the purpose of educating his children, he moved 
to Yellow Springs, O., where he died January 11, 1855. He 
was gifted in exhortation, and his public labors were blessed 
in the conversion of many. 

Aaron Cornish. (1801 — 1872.) — Aaron was born in 
1801, commenced preaching in Royalton, N. Y., in 1825, was 
ordained June, 1830, by Jeremiah Gates, Joel Doubleday, 
Reuben Fairly, and William Blake, and joined the Erie Con- 
ference July, 1824, where he continued his membership till 
death. He died July 6, 1872, aged seventy-one years. He 
is said to have been a devoted and useful man. 

THE CRAFTS. Henry Craft was a minister in the 
southern part of Indiana, many years ago. 

James Craft. (1830— 1864.)— James was born in 1830, 
joined the Auglaise Conference in 1855, and was ordained in 
1860. He went to the War of the Rebellion, and died in 
Knoxville, Tenn., of smallpox, January 25, 1864. . He was a 
young man of great promise. 

John Crafton. (1788 — 1838.) — John was born June 22, 
1788, commenced preaching in 1812, was married to Cynthia 
Crawford April, 1823, and died December 18, 1838. He la- 
bored extensively as an evangelist in Indiana and Kentucky. 
He was well posted in the Scriptures, and had zeal and good 
talent. He died of inflamation of the lungs, which was pro- 
duced by excessive labor in the pulpit. 

Nancy Gove Cram. (1776— 1816.)— This female labor- 
er's life is inserted among the ministers of the Christian de- 
nomination, not because she was a regular member of the body, 
but because of the prominent part she occupied amongst the 
people called Christians in the State of New York for the space 



CRA M— CRANDALL. 97 

of four years. It is not certain that this sister ever joined the 
Christian Church ; for when she left Ware, X. H., for New 
York, she was a member in good standing of the Freewill Bap- 
tist denomination. But she was so earnestly engaged in the 
salvation of souls that she had no time to think of denomina- 
tional lines. The life of this worthy sister in Christ was 
singular, successful, and yet sad. 

She was horn in Ware, X. H., in 1776. Her maiden name 
was Gove. About 1796, she married a man by the name of 
Cram, who was thought, at the time, to be a respectable man. 
In process of time, he turned out to be a dissolute and wicked 
man, abusing his wife, and finally living with another woman. 
In all this affliction, Nancy clung closer to her God, and re- 
ceived the approbation of those who knew her. After laboring 
in the ministry for some time in her native state, having much 
of the missionary spirit, and being entirely released from all 
earthly ties, about 1812, she went to the State of Xew York 
on a preaching tour. From this visit of Sister Cram, many of 
the most flourishing churches in the eastern part of the state 
had their start. Through the same visit, also, Elders Thomp- 
son, King, Martin, and others were induced to move from Ver- 
mont to Xew York, and through it, finally, some of our most 
prominent ministers were converted and called to the minis- 
try. From the Balston church alone, raised by her labors, 
Elders David Millard, John Ross, and John Hollister, together 
with two female laborers — Abigail Roberts and Mary (Ste- 
vens) Curry entered the Christian ministry. 

Her labor in New York continued some three or four years, 
after which she returned to Ware, her native town, where she 
died January, 1816. 

THE CRANDALLS. Comer Ckandall. (1791—1835.) 

— This Elder was born in 1791, embraced religion and joined 
the Christians about 1821, and soon after began to preach with 
great zeal and energy. His health had been poor for some 
time, yet he continued to preach almost to the end. His last 
sermon was truly affecting, he being on the verge of the grave, 
yet so anxious for the salvation of sinners. Soon after this, he 
took to bleeding at the lungs, and died soon after — December 
30, 1835. On his death bed, he requested to be buried by the 
side of his old friend, Elder John Peavy, in the grave-yard at 
Milan. He is said to have been a very zealous man, devoted 
to liis high calling. 



98 CRANDALL— CROCKER, 

Elias Crandall. — This Elder was a member of the South- 
ern New York Conference, and died about 1859. Sermon be- 
fore the conference by Elder J. W. Stearns. 

Lewis Craven. (1806— 1842.)— Lewis was born in 1806 r 
commenced preaching in 1829, and died in Halifax County, 
Va., October 7, 1842. His labors Avere extensive and very ef- 
ficient. Sunday, October 2, 1842, he preached a powerful 
sermon before the conference, and it was thought that this was 
partly the cause of his death. The next day (Monday) on his 
way to meeting, he was compelled to turn to a house on the 
w T ay for rest. He was perfectly resigned to die. He said. "I 
feel like goiug home." 

Jacob F. Crist. (1807— 1873.)— Jacob was bom in 
Hamilton County, O., in 1807, moved to Brown County, the 
same state, and became an exhorter about 1840. He contin- 
ued to exhort, the rest of his life. He moved to Missouri, and 
died there in May, 1873, aged sixty-six years. He was a very 
zealous and devoted man. 

Theophilus Crocker. (1761 — 1853.) — This aged man 
was born in Massachusetts, in 1761, experienced religion when 
six years old. In the beginning of the Revolutionary War, he 
entered the army, and continued connected with it more or 
less to the close. In 1783, he joined the Baptists, and contin- 
ued in that connexion for some years. He became acquainted 
with the Christians in their early struggles, and, feeling in har- 
mony with their views, joined them. In 1785, he was married 
to Mary Allen, and, in an early day, moved with his family to- 
Genuesee County, N. Y. About 1791, he began to preach,, 
and for thirty or forty years spent much of his time in travel- 
ing and preaching, as was the custom of many in those days. 
In 1830, his wife died. Since that time, he lived mostly with 
his children. During the last thirty years of his life, he did not 
preach much until a few years before he died, when he la- 
bored more. He died in 1853, ninety-two years old. 

He was a man of wonderful memory. It is said that, when 
eighty-seven years old, he committed to memory the whole 
book of Revelation, and that he would repeat whole chapters 
without missing a word. He left five children, two of whom 
— Allen and Theophilus — became ministers. For many years. 
he was one of the oldest ministers in the church. 



CROSS— CUMMINGa m> 

Samuel Cross. (1780 — 1860.) — This aged brother was a 
member of the Tioga River Conference. Elder Badger speaks 
of him, in July, 1847, as an old man with a voice like a lion's 
and hair as white as wool. He died at North Cohocton, N. 
Y., near 1860, about eighty years old. 

Zephaniah Crossmax. — This Elder was one of the com- 
mittee appointed to ordain Elder Benjamin Taylor, at Assonet, 
Mass., in 1811. 

Peter Culpepee. — This was a Virginia minister of promi- 
nence A. D. 1800. Elder Burlingame, of Rhode Island, says 
the Elder was an author of some repute, and that he has an 
able sermon of his in answer to .John West on the "Mystery of 
Iniquity." 

THE CUMMINGS. Moses Cemmpngs.— Though this 
Elder occupied a prominent position in the church for many 
years, yet I have failed to find any considerable account of his 
life and labors. One letter I see dated at Honesdale, Pa., 
where he was pastor of the church, and where he continued for 
several years. His letters at this time show great energy, lib- 
erality, zeal, and liveliness. His style is very plain and some- 
what given to irony, especially in writing against narrowness 
and bigotry, which subjects he frequently takes up and handles 
without gloves. 

In March, 1855, he became the resident editor of two pa- 
pers, the "Palladium" and "Messenger." His editorials are 
generally very able. It was remarked by many, during hi* 
connection with those papers, that he was one of the ablest 
writers in the church. These papers became quite popular un- 
der his administration, at first, but other papers being published 
in other parts, and the failure of Antioch College taking place 
at the time, the Central Publishing Establishment, under his 
care, failed for want of patronage. 

The Elder was a member of the New Jersy Conference, and 
in his latter years, lived at Irvington, N. J. Of his preach- 
ing talent, I have no knowledge ; but, judging from his suc- 
cess as a pastor in his early years, and his ability as an editor 
and writer, I should suppose that he was an able preacher. 
After leaving the office of the "Palladium," for several years, 
he published a commercial paper and advertising medium in 
the city of New York ; but he never was prominent in fLe 



100 CUMMINGS— CUNNIGHAM. 

church after this time. He died in Irvington, N. J., about 
1866, but I liave not the precise date or circumstances con- 
nected with his death. 

William Cummings. (1785 — 1847.) — From the "Palla- 
dium" of 1848, page 592, we gather the following : William 
Cummings was born in the State of New Hampshire, in 1785, 
was converted in 1806, commenced preaching in 1810, and was 
ordained at Bradford, Vt., in 1815. In 1817 or '18, he moved 
from Runmey, N. H., to Delaware County, N. Y., where he 
spent most of his time till death, although he traveled exten- 
sively through other states. He died at Lansingville, N. Y., 
of mnamation of the lungs December 12, 1847. 

The Elder was a prominent man in the church. He was 
also a man of more than ordinary consecration to the great 
work. His letters, of which he wrote many to the different 
periodicals of the day, are full of cheerfulness, faith, hope, and 
confidence in God. When he first embraced religion, he was 
so full of joy that some of the older members told him he was 
going on borrowed capital, and that the sorrows of life would 
have to pay back, etc. The Elder, mentioning this in his last 
days, said, "They were mistaken ; I have been full of glory 
all the time." At one time, his house took fire and most of his 
property was consumed ; while preaching soon after, referring 
to the circumstance, he said, "None of these things move me." 

THE CUMMINS, Charles Cummins. (1780—1850.)— 
Our present subject was born in Augusta County, Va., in 1780, 
joined the Baptists in Virginia about 1820, but, forming an ac- 
quaintance with the Christians, he joined them. He was or- 
dained a minister of the Christian Church in Giles County, 
Va., by Elders Duncan and Kirk. In 1831, he moved to 
Henry County, Ind., where he died March 13, 1850, aged 
seventy-nine years. 

F. K. Cummins. (1824— 1859.)— This was a relative of 
the preceding, and lived in the same neighborhood. He was 
born in 1824, in Madison County, Ind., and died in the same 
county February 3, 1859. He was a young preacher who 
stood high in the community but was local in his labors. He 
was a member of the Bluff ton Conference. He died lamented, 
leaving a wife, and children. 

William Cunningham. — This brother was a member of 
the Central Illinois Conference, which he joined at the time of 



CUNNINGHAM— CURRIER. 1 01 

He was local in his labors, but faithful and 
true. He died, full of years. 

J. H. Currier. (1808—1859.) - In the "Palladium," Vol. 
29, page 139, J. M. Wescott gives the following items on the 
life of Elder Currier. He was born in Reading, Vt. , May 20, 
1808, was converted in Canandaigua, N. Y., in 1825. In 
1828, he lost his interest in religious matters, in a great mea- 
sure ; but in 1830, he renewed his covenant, and soon after, 
commenced laboring in the ministry. In 1828, he attended 
the Middlebury Academy for some months. When he re- 
newed his covenant, he was teaching school at Lakevillage, 
N. H. He was ordained at Fairfield, Pa., March 9, 1833, by 
Elders D. Millard, Seth Marvin, and Daniel Rote. He was 
married October 23, 1836, to Emily Campbell, in New York 
City, bv Elder I. N. Walter. He died at West Shelby, N. 
Y., January 9, 1860. 

Elder Currier was a man of great energy and activity. In 
looking over our periodicals from 1832 to the time of his death, 
w T e find articles written upon almost every subject connected 
with the interest of the church. At one time, we find sugges- 
tions for the correction of errors he sees in his traveling ; then 
a commendation of certain things he observes ; now a doctrinal 
article in answer to some one either in his own or some other 
church. But, whatever it is, the man is always awake to the 
interest of religion. July, 1832, we find him in Canada West, 
attending meetings of great interest with Elders Mclntire, 
Bailey, Bliss, and Stump. This was soon after he commenced 
preaching. May, 1834, he is at Providence, Pa., holding a 
four days' meeting. He rejoices in the prosperity of Zion. 
September, the same year, we find him near Philadelphia, 
holding many meetings with Elders Fleming, Thompson, and 
others ; many are converted, and the prospect is brightening. 
June, 1835, he continues his labors at Lawrence, N. Y., for 
several months, in company with Elders Burges, Thompson, 
and others. July, 1835, he writes from Camptown, N. J., hav- 
ing left Lawrence, and calling on Elder Cummings in Dela- 
ware County, N. Y., he passes through Plymouth, Pa., and 
other places. He comes to Johnsonburg, N. J., in time to as- 
sist at the burial of Elder Joseph Thomas, the White Pilgrim. 
His reflections on the death of this stranger, whom he had 
never before seen, far away from family and kindred, of the 
contagion that prevented friends from administering to him in 



102 CURRIER— CURRY. 

his last moments as they desired, are solemn and very "pathetic, 
showing the true nature of the man. 

April, 1840, he is pastor of the church at Stephentown, 
where they were building a meeting-house, for a place of wor- 
ship, and a schoolhouse under one roof. In this same letter, 
he urges promiscuous sittings in the congregation. In 1845, he 
is in New York City, with no engagements, willing to serve 
where needed, and, at the same .time, he makes a fair proposi- 
tion to go anywhere at a moderate salary to teach Grammar, 
Natural Philosophy, Astronomy, and kindred branches of 
knowledge in any church that may want him. This work was 
to be done by lectures, week days and evenings. The same 
year, he held meetings at Gulf Mills, Pa., New York City, 
and other places. February, 1846, he became pastor of one 
of the churches in New Bedford, succeeding Elder J. Black- 
mar. He commends the loving nature of the union meetings 
held in that city, where the ministers of all denominations 
meet together to consult and pray for the prosperity of their 
respective churches. He was an active man and a great writer, 
not only on the workings of the church, but on subjects of a 
controversial character as well. 

In 1853, he moved to Dundee, N. Y., where he had him- 
self fixed, as he thought, to spend the balance of his days. 
But, for some cause, he continued with this church only three 
or four years. In May, 1859, he moved with his family to 
West Shelby, N. Y., where he preached with great energy and 
success till the December following, when his labors were closed 
by death, in the zenith of his power. He died of a carbuncle 
on the back, over the spine. He left a wife and four children 
— two sons and two daughters. 

In person, the Elder was a fine looking man, rather short, 
thick set, with black hair and eyes, very pleasant in his habits, 
full of life, and always cheerful. He was a thorough grammar- 
ian and a good elocutionist, calm but earnest. In fine, he was 
a man who could illy be spared at his age. 

THE CURRYS. Ezekiel Curry. (1791— 1867.)— This 
brother was born in Athens, Penn., June 6, 1791, and died in 
the same place, October 26, 1867. He married, for his first 
wife, Clarissa Lamphere, August 9, 1812, who died April 29, 
1835. February 6, 1837, he married Mary Stevens, a female 
laborer in the Christian Church, who survived him. 

The Curry family belonged to the Methodists. Ezekiel was 



CURRY— CURTIS. 103 

converted in that church in 1#14. He ^continued an active 
member of that body for about twenty years, when a certain 
trouble occured in the church, and the class-book was burned 
by one of the ministers. About the same time, some of the 
Christian ministers preached in Smithfield, Penn., near his 
residence, which caused him to search, the scriptures for himself. 
His views were changed and he joined the latter body. He 
had heard of the "Christ-ians,"as they were called, before and 
formed a very poor opinion of them, but when he learned for 
himself he became a zealous advocate of the doctrine he had 
hated. 

His first public work was in connection with his wife. He 
being a good singer and an earnest talker he soon became an 
active lay worker in the church. He was ordained to the 
full work of the ministry about 1839, and became a member of 
the Xew York Eastern Conference. By occupation he was a 
farmer and acquired a handsome property. He became a very 
useful man. While limited in education he gained much knowl- 
edge in laboring in the ministry. 

William Curry. (1770 — 1855.) — William was born near 
Peekskill, X. Y., in 1770. He joined the Methodists and 
commenced preaching among them about 1795. He contin- 
ued a minister of that church about twenty-seven years. In 
connection with eight other ministers, he left that body on ac- 
count of a disagreement on the doctrine of the Trinity, and 
kindred tenets. They at first formed an independent body of 
their own, but finally joined the Christians. He died at En- 
field, N. Y., March : 2o, 1855, in his eighty-fifth year. 

The Elder had been a resident of the Western part of Xew 
York for many years. He was an active minister of the Chris- 
tian Church eighteen years. He was a man of respectable 
ability, of lively conception, and his communications were for- 
cible. 

THE CURTISES, W. Curtis. ( —1870.)— This 

minister was a member of the Southern Wabash Illinois Con- 
ference. He died in 1870. 

Zarah Curtis. (1761 — 1849.) — Zarah was born in Plym- 
outh, Conn., May 2, 1761. He entered the army, in the ser- 
vice of the State of Connetticut, in 1778, and continued two 
years. January 1, 1780, he enlisted in the Continental Army, 



104 CURTIS— DARST. 

in Captain John Webb's company, Colonel Sheldon's regiment 
of Dragoons, in which he served to the end of the war. He 
served as orderly on the staff of General Howe, with the rank 
of a noncommissioned officer, and was finally promoted to the 
grade of sergeant. 

His position with General Howe gave him a fine opportunity 
to study the character of the great men of that trying" time — 
as Generals Washington, Rochambeau, Sterling, LaFayette, 
Steuben, Parson, Heath, Lincoln, and others, of whom he 
often spoke to his friends in after years. During the service, 
he was engaged in the battles of Horse Neck, King's Bridge, 
Harlem River, and in the taking of the brig "Three Brothers," 
off Fairfield, in 1783. 

After the war, he married a daughter of Aaron Yale, of Hart- 
ford Conn. , and moved to Vermont. For awhile, also, he lived 
in Champlain, Clinton County, New York, but in 1809, he mov- 
ed to Newark, Ohio, a journey of more than two months at that 
time. In Licking and Knox counties, Ohio, he spent the re 
mainder of his days. 

About 1798, he joined the Methodist Church, in which con- 
nexion he continued for about twenty years, but being convinced 
that the doctrine of the Trinity was not taught in the bible, lie 
united with the Christian Church in 1819, in which he contin- 
ued until death. He was a man and minister of irreproachable 
character and of acknowledged usefulness, commanding the re- 
spect of the conference and all who knew him. 

He died near Utica, Ohio, June 9, 1849, aged eigty-nine 
years. 

John Dale. ( 1870.) — This minister was a mem 

ber of the Southern Wabash Conference, Illinois. He died in 
1870. 

John Daniels. (1763 — 1846.) — John was born in 1763, 
and served some time in the Revolutionary War. He was 
converted when young, and soon became a zealous, self-sacrifi- 
cing minister. Many were converted under his preaching. 
His field of labor was mostly in Gennesee County, N. Y. He 
died in Stafford, N. Y., October 10, 1846, aged eighty-three 
years. 

H. P. Darst. (1816— 1860.)— This Elder was bom in 
1816, joined the Christians, under the labors of Elder P. Stipp , 



DARST— DAVIS. 105 

in 1843, and soon commenced preaching, joining the North- 
western Ohio Conference. He died in Hardin County, O., of 
milk sickness, October 24, 1860. All-'speak of him as a good 
man and a faithful worker. 

THE DA VISES. John Davis. (1781— 1856.)— John 
was born in 1781, was raised among the Baptists, and was or- 
dained by them October 11, 1820. Having embraced the 
Christian doctrine of the sufficiency of the Bible for a creed, 
he joined the North-western Ohio Conference, and labored 
faithfully with that body till death. He died October 8, 1856, 
aged seventy-five years. 

Epes Davis. (1773 — 1856.) — Epes was born in 1772, and 
lived most of his time in Gloucester, Mass. He was converted 
in 1804, and commenced preaching soon after. As was the 
custom in those days, he supported himself by his own labor, 
and had conscientious scruples about receiving compensation 
for his ministerial work. But in his last years, he called in 
question the soundness of his early views. However, he ac- 
quired some wealth, and built a meeting-house, worth about 
fifteen hundred dollars, at Gloucester, at his own expense. In 
May, 1856, he moved to Lvnn, where he died December 5, 
1856. 

Jacob Davis. (1786 — 1851.) — John K. Davis, a son of 
the deceased, says his father was born in Alton, N. H., Feb- 
ruary 17, 1786. He was the son of Timothy and Mary (Gran- 
ville) Davis. His father was a farmer, and the son followed 
the same occupation till the age of seventeen, when his father 
sent him to learn the shoemaker's and tanner's trades, in the 
neighborhood. He followed the latter occupation till he was 
twenty-one years old. He experienced religion in 1803, was 
baptized, and joined the Freewill Baptist Church. He was 
married to Louisa Kelly, of Gilmanton, N. H. About this 
time, he had it impressed upon his mind that he must preach, 
which impression he resisted for a time. In 1825, he joined 
the Christian Church, and the next year gave up the struggle 
of opposing his call to the ministry. He was ordained at Al- 
ton, N. H., May 31, 1829, Elder Timothy Cole being ordained 
at the same meeting. In 1831, he moved to Barnstead with 
his family, where he continued to labor till 1839, when his 
wife, Louisa, died. From Barnstead, he moved to West Mil- 



106 DAVIS. 

ton ; during his stay there, lie married for his second wife Mrs. 
Hannah Lambert, a widow lady of that place. After this, he 
labored in Dover and Boscawen. He died suddenly at the res- 
idence of his son, at Barnstead, N. H., July 13, 1851. He 
was ready to depart ; for, to him, death had lost its terror. 

John L. Davis. ( 1837.)— This brother lived and 

died in Chester, S. C. He died February 16, 1837. His 
writings show much ability and earnestness. 

Patten Davis. (1808— 1860.)— Patten was born about 
1808, and was raised in Bethel, Vt. He was a small and very 
energetic man, and a great revivalist. For a time, he labored 
with a class ol Communists in the State of New York. Af- 
ter this, he engaged in the business of daguerreotyping, preach- 
ing, whenever he could, in Vermont. He became insane, and 
died in a lunatic asylum about 1860. 

Richard Davis. (1791 — 1868.) — Richard was born in 
Rochester, Mass., May 5, 1791, and died in Milwaukee, Wis., 
December 28, 1868. He was converted in 1817, and was or- 
dained in Brutus, N. Y., in 1822. His labors in New Eng- 
land were injthe neighborhood of Durham, N. H. He organ- 
ized the Upper Gilmanton Christian Church in 1839. He 
also preached in Franklin, South Hampton, and Andover. 
Late in life, he moved to Wisconsin, and died there as stated. 

He was a large man, with a strong voice, pleasant and 
prompt, and a ready speaker. His education was somewhat 
limited, but his quickness of apprehension made up for the 
defect, in a great measure. 

Russel B. Davis. (1807— 1838.)— Many of the Maine 
and New Hampshire brethren have written to me concerning 
this young minister, and all agree that his early death was a 
great loss to the church. He was born in 1807, was converted 
in 1832, under the labors of Elder Henry Frost, and was bap- 
tized by the same. In 1834, he commenced his labors in the 
ministry, and the next year, left all to engage in his sacred 
calling. His influence and power were felt at once in the re- 
gion where he labored, and he took a higher stand in the con- 
ference and church than could be expected of one so young in 
the work. In June, 1836, he was ordained at Cornish, Me. 
During his short life in the ministry, he labored first in Pen- 



DAVIS— DEARTH. 107 

obscot and Summerset counties. Afterwards, he went to 
Kennebunk, Me., Lynn, Boston, Dartmouth, and Westport, 
Mass., and died in Fairfield, Me., May 13, 1838. 

THE DAWSONS. Elijah Dawson.— This minister was 
a member of the Central Indiana Conference. He was a faith- 
fill minister. 

Samuel R. Dawson. ( 1816.) — Dawson was a 

prominent man, a Colonel of the Militia. He had a fair edu- 
cation. He commenced preaching about 1816, and died in 
the bounds of the Deer Creek Conference, O., about 1846. 

A. S. Dean. (1820— 1860.)— This Elder lived and 
preached in Michigan till 1848, when he entered the Theolog- 
ical school in Meadville, Penn. In 1851, he graduated in the 
three years course. Soon after, he took charge of the church 
at Union Springs, N. Y. In this church, he was quite suc- 
cessful as a preacher and pastor. 

When the Antiocli College enterprise commenced, the El- 
der was one of its most ardent supporters. In 1851 or '52, he 
took the New York agency to raise money for the building of 
the college. He raised a large amount of money, mostly 
among the Unitarians and other liberal people in New York 
City. He soon became an assistant treasurer of the college, 
under Mr. Palmer, of the Broadway Bank, New York City, 
and located in Yellow Springs, O., where he married Miss 
Pennel, a niece of Hon. Horace Mann, president of the col- 
lege. 

In June, 1855, in company with his wife, he started for Eu- 
rope, and traveled considerably through the old world. He 
wrote some interesting letters to our papers, describing quite 
vividly the scenes through which he traveled. About the 
beginning of the war of the Rebellion, he moved to St. Louis, 
Mo., and soon after died. He was not far from forty years 
old at the time of his death. He was a man of more than or- 
dinary talent. 

Isaac Dearth. (1785 — 1869.) — This aged servant of 
God was born near Brownsville, Penn., December 26, 1785. 
He w T as the son of Edward and Elizabeth Dearth, who were 
members of the Methodist Church. In 1801, he moved with 
his father's familv to Warren Countv, (X, where Isaac had 



108 DEARTH— DENIO. 

such educational advantages as were common in that early day 
in Ohio. In 1800, he received religious impressions from a 
Presbyterian school-teacher, which never left his mind. In 
1806, he was married to Miss Betsy Newport, who survived 
him. In 1818, he was licensed to preach in the Christian 
Church, and was ordained in September, 1820, by Elders 
David Purviance and John Plummer. He died February 28, 
1869. 

The field of labor of this brother was mostly in Warren 
and adjoining counties in Ohio. He carried on a farm during 
his entire ministerial life ; yet, under all the embarrassments 
of small pay, a large family, and large secular business, at 
certain periods of his life, he traveled quite extensively, and 
saw thousands converted through his labors. For many years, 
the Elder was a prominent man in the Miami Ohio Conference. 

William Demeritt. (1789— 1841.)— This Elder was 
born in Durham, N. H., in 1786, was converted in 1809, and 
soon began to preach. He was ordained in Lee. N. H., July, 
1816. He became pastor of the church in Durham, and joined 
the New Hampshire Conference at its organization, and con- 
tinued both relations till death. He died at Durham, Decem- 
ber 29, 1841. 

This Elder was a man of great energy. His whole heart 
was in the work. He had undertaken many enterprises for 
the good of the cause, and was always successful The last 
enterprise carried through by his indomitable spirit was the es- 
tablishment of the Durham Academy of the Christian Church, 
in his own village. But before the work was finished, he died. 
He left a mother, wife, and children. The cause of his death 
was an injury received by being thrown from a carriage. 

Eli Denio. (1783 — 1846.) — This brother was born in 
1783. In his youth, he was a sailor, and traveled through 
many foreign countries. He sailed for the East over the Red 
Sea and Indian Ocean. On one of these voyages, during a 
severe storm, he was struck under conviction. When he came 
to land, he joined the Baptist Church ; but, through the 
preaching of Elder J. S. Thompson, J. King, and others, he 
was led to join the Christians. He commenced preaching 
among the Christians in 1821, and continued faithful until 
death. He died at Moira, N. Y., June 23, 1846. 

For many years, this Elder was well known in the denom- 



denio— DEwrrr. 109 

ination as a faithful and useful minister. His peculiar gift 
was that of a revivalist. His delivery was smooth and easy, 
his zeal knew no bounds, and his piety was deep and fervent. 
He was a plain, delicate, and slender man, with stooping 
form, a clear, shrill voice, and rapid delivery. His education 
was quite limited, and it was a wonder to many that such an 
illiterate, rough sailor should be so successful as a minister. 
But the Elder, in his humility, attributed all his success in the 
work to the grace of God. His health, never good, broke 
down entirely at the death of his wife, in 1836. His mind and 
body sank underneath this stroke. From this time till death, 
he lived with his children, generally in limited circumstances. 
He died at the house of a son-in-law. His faith continued 
strong to the last. 

John Depew. (1815 — 1879.) — John was born in 1815 
He was early converted, and joined the Christian Church at 
Newark, N. Y. In 1848, he began to preach. He was pas- 
tor at Sod us, N. Y., for twenty years. He died at Arcadia, 
N. Y., September 6, 1879, leaving a wife and five children. 

. Peter M. Devore. (1802— 1877.)— The Devore family 
is of German origin. The grandfather of the deceased came 
from Germany, from the bank of the river Rhine. Peter was 
the son of David Devore, who was a prominent member of the 
church at Ripley, and whose children became prominent mem- 
bers of the Christian Church. Peter embraced religion about 
1837, and soon commenced preaching. All the Devores were 
in good circumstances, and our brother had a large farm on 
the bank of the Ohio River, near the village of Higginsport. 
With the care neccessary to manage his property and a large 
family of children, the wonder is that he devoted so much time 
to the work of the ministry ; yet, in the thirty or forty years 
of his ministerial life, he did much to build up the cause in 
Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky. He was a man of 
great zeal, tender feelings, and, as he often said, he believed 
in a Holy Ghost religion. 

He died in triumph at his own home on the bank of the 
beautiful Ohio, June 7, 1877, leaving a mourning widow [who 
followed him soon after to the better land] and many affection- 
ate children to mourn their loss. 

John Dewttt. (1814— 1854.)— John was born in Alle- 
gany County, Penn., March 4, 1814. He moved with his pa- 



110 DEWITT^DICKSON. 

rents to Meigs County, O., in 1822. In 1835, he was married 
to Miss Olive Gee, and, soon after, both joined the Christian 
Church at Dexter, under the labors of Elder Tewksberry. In 
1846, he began to preach. In 1851, he moved to Wapello 
County, Iowa ; but, at the request of brethren, he moved to 
Batavia, the same state, where he labored in the surrounding 
churches till ill health prevented. He generally had charge 
of three or four churches. His means were limited, and, with 
thirteen children, and the pay for ministerial labor small, it 
was impossible for him to devote much time to the work he 
loved so much. He died at Batavia, June 29, 1854< His 
ministerial life was short, and the circumstances under which 
he labored were very trying ; yet all felt that he did what he 
could in the cause of God. 

THE DICKINSONS. Wili iam and James Dickinson. 
— In the periodicals of the time, there is some confusion in re- 
gard to the history of these ministers. It is stated that two 
ministers of the above name labored near Williamsport, O. , in 
an early day. Elder Millard, writing from the above place to 
the "Palladium," in 1834, gives an account of William, who 
was raised near that place, went to Virginia, and after labor- 
ing in that state for a time, died there in 1827. In the "Chris- 
tian Messenger," Vol. II, page 47, there is a fuller account of 
James Dickinson, who was born and raised in Ohio, and after- 
wards moved to Virginia, where he labored with much suc- 
cess. He also preached in Philadelphia and Baltimore. His 
health failing him, he undertook the practice of medicine. He 
died at the home of Brother Joel Ellison, at Cape Capron, 
Va., October 31, 1827. There is but little doubt that Elder 
Millard had the same person in view ; whether William or 
James was the one who died in Virginia is unknown. 

Bayles L. Dickson. (1816 — 1874.) — Our present sub- 
ject was a zealous and energetic man, a member of the Tip- 
pecanoe Conference, Ind. He traveled as a conference mis- 
sionary for many years, and was quite successful in the conver- 
sion of sinners. 

He was born in Fayette County, Ind., May 5, 1816, and 
died in Fulton County, the same state, November 3, 1874; 
In j 836, he moved with his parents to Marshall County, Ind. 
In 1840, he married Miss Emma Houghton, who survived 
him. : In 1854, he entered the ministry, and at once became 



DICKSON— DQNALDSON. 1 1 1 

a successful preacher. His first pastorate was in Winainack,. 
aud his second at Argos, both in Indiana. In the latter place,, 
by his judicious management and that of his family, he built 
a strong church, although laboring extensively as an evange- 
list most of his time. He died lamented by the church and 
community, and especially by a loving wife and affectionate 
children. 

Elias Doble died in Etna, Me., before 1875. 

Reuben Doges. ( 1828.) — This brother was one 

of the most devoted and self-sacrificing of men. In early life, 
he lived in Charleston, Mass., where he worked at the trade 
of brick-laying. He finally moved to Stowe, Yt,, where he 
continued at the same trade, and preached when he could. 
He would work hard all day and walk ten miles to meeting 
and back again the same night to be ready for work the next 
day. His constant theme was religion, of which he talked 
much and wisely. He was in limited circumstances, but he 
raised a fine family of children, some of whom became scholars 
and teachers. He was an influential man, in his narrow 
sphere, and was much respected by his brethren. He died 
about 1828. 

John Donachy. (1813 — 1841.) — This brother was born 
in 1813. He was one of the first who joined the Christian 
Church in Lewisburg, Penn. He commenced preaching in 
1836 or '37, and died in Lewisburg, November 22, 1841, leav- 
ing a wife and children. In person, he was tall and slim, 
and had a dark complexion. His peculiar forte was exhorta- 
tion and doctrinal subjects. 

Tiffin Donaldson. (1836— 1862.)— This brother was a 
young man Avhen he died, and had been but a few years in the 
ministry ; but, from the way he started out, all the brethren 
expected a great future for him in the Master's work. He was 
raised in Fountain County, Ind. Very early in life, he joined 
the Methodist Church. He attended school whenever he could, 
and made great progress in knowledge. As he proceeded in 
the study of the Bible, he found that he could not honestly 
subscribe to some of the doctrines of his own church. He ap- 
plied and was received a member of the Christian Church. 
Soon after, he joined the Central Illinois Conference, and was 
very active in winning sinners to Christ. About this time, 
also, he was united in marriage to a lady well suited to the 



112 DONALDSON— DOOLY. 

high calling which he had espoused. It was his intention to 
enter Union Christian College ; but, when the war of the Re- 
bellion broke out, he enlisted in the service of his country. 
He died in the service at New Haven, Ky., of typhoid fever, 
February 23, 1862, leaving a young wife and one child to 
mourn his untimely departure. 

THE DOOLYS. Moses Dooly.— This brother was a 
minister in an early day, in Ohio and Kentucky. He w r as an 
old man before 1825. 

Reuben Dooly. (1773— 1822.)— Few men of limited ed- 
ucation left a deeper impression upon any denomination than 
did this brother upon the Christian Connexion. He is remem- 
bered with affection in all places where he traveled. 

He was born in Bedford County, Va., November 14, 1773. 
His father was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church. Reuben 
moved w T ith his father's family to Madison County, Ky., in 
1781. As it was in the time of the Indian War, the family at 
first lived in a fort ; so Reuben's educational advantages were 
not great. He had to attend school in perilous times. His 
first ideas in Theology were in keeping w T ith the Calvanistic 
preaching he heard — that he was a reprobate. This led him to 
lead a wild and reckless life. He was finally converted in the 
Presbyterian Church, under the preaching of Samuel Find ley. 
His temper and zeal at once led him to exhort others. So 
successful was he in this irregular preaching that many w r ere 
led to Christ through his exhortations. He could not enter 
the Presbyterian ministry on account of his limited education. 
So anxious was he to labor in the Christian cause that he w T ent 
three different times to the Cherokee Indians to tell them how 
good religion was. He was well received by the red men. 
He had David Haggard to visit them too. He lived at this 
time in Barren County, Ky. 

In 1801, he attended the great meeting at Cane Ridge. 
The work there was just to his liking. He took an active part 
in the exercises, w T as soon baptized by immersion, and was or- 
dained by the new party to the full w 7 ork of the ministry. He 
now labored in various places with great success. In 1807, he 
w r as about to move his family to Preble County, O. , where his 
father had already moved ; but death came, his brother and 
wife died within four days of each other. His children were 
taken by some relatives and he was entirely foot-loose — and 



DOOLY. 113 

well did he use the opportunity. One time, we find him in 
Ohio, in company with Elder Barton W. Stone, who, also, was 
a widower, crossing streams that were over their banks, being 
carried over a mill-dam and nearly drowned, tearing garments 
by their rough traveling, yet so poor that they lacked the 
means to pay for being ferried over the many streams they had 
to cross. 

In 1810, we see him visiting Kentucky, Tennessee, and Vir- 
ginia, and, perhaps, other states. At ISorfolk, Va., he had a 
good time with Rice Haggard, one of the pioneer ministers of 
the O'Kelly branch of the Christian Church. Indeed, he was 
like Paul, he knew nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. 
About 1811, he took the milk sickness in Miami County, O., 
from the effects of which he never fully recovered. In 1817, 
he went on a preaching tour to the State of Missouri. Great 
success attended his preaching and many souls were converted. 
On his way back, he and his horse were both sick. He often 
had to alight from his horse and lie down to rest, thinking, 
sometimes, that he should never reach his family. His way 
lay through the unbroken forest, with neither a house nor a 
clearing for scores of miles. After resting for a while from 
his fatigue, at home, we find him, in company with his father, 
visitiug Virginia. The same year, he has great meetings in 
Kentucky. In 1820, his father died. From this time, he felt 
his iron constitution giving way, and realized that his time to 
di? was not far off. 

A short time before he died, when his health was quite poor, 
there was a meeting held by'Elder David Purviance and some 
others at the Paint Church, Preble County, O., where the El- 
der lived. In this meeting, he did not speak till toward the 
close. When he did speak he carried everything before him. 
His wife said to him, "Reuben, you have killed yourself." 
His answer was expressive of the man, "If I was to die on the 
spot, I would not have said a word less." This was his last 
sermon. He died April 22, 1822, aged forty-nine years, about 
twenty-two of which he had spent in the ministry. He was 
married twice — first to Lean Railsback, of whom he had five 
children, second to Rachael Martin, in 1811. His great power 
as a speaker was in rousing the people. Elder Barton W. 
Stone used to say of him that when he built the brush heap 
Dooly could set it on fire. His powerful constitution was bro- 
ken dow r n in the short space of twenty years by excessive la- 
bor. 



114 DOUBLEDAY. 

Joel Doubled ay. (1766 — 1858. ) — Joel was born in Leb- 
anon, Conn., January 12, 1766. He was the son of Joseph 
and Elizabeth (Phelps) Doubleday. His mother was a pious 
good woman, and his father was religious, but so set in his Cal- 
vinistic Theology that he would hardly consent to examine any 
other views. In 1782, his mother joined the church during a 
revival in Lebanon, and Joel was much affected by the act. 
In 1785, the family moved to Coventry, Conn. Through 
these years, Joel was much concerned about religion, some- 
times concluding that he was a reprobate, at other times cher- 
ishing the hope that he might be converted. In 1787, another 
awakening occured in the village, and his conviction deepened 
more and more ; but, in the autumn of the next year, while 
on a visit to a brother in the State of Massachusetts, lie met 
a Universalist, and although he argued strongly against the 
doctrine of universal salvation, yet, as they both agreed that 
God had foreordained whatever should come to pass, when he left 
his Universalist companion, he was more than half converted 
to his opponent's views. From this time, he argued the Uni- 
versalist doctrine with many inward doubts of the truth of his 
theory. It was his peculiar hobby, also, to oppose fatalism 
and Calvinistic doctrines. About this time, he read the entire 
Bible through, six times. In 1789, he moved to Windsor, Vt., 
and, in the fall of 1790, was married to Miss Anna Wentworth. 
He was now the head of a family, and, being well posted in 
Bible lore, he was counted by his neighbors a staunch advo- 
cate of universal salvation. 

Thus he continued till 1802, when, according to his own 
words, "he heard the first gospel sermon." The preacher's 
name was Steadman, and he belonged to the Freewill Baptist 
Church. The man seemed to direct all his arguments at Joel, 
treating on free grace and God's willingness to save all on the 
terms of repentance. At this time, Joel had not been to meet- 
ing on Sunday for three years, and his thirteen years of Uni- 
versalism received a heavy shock from that sermon. It is use- 
less to mention here all the exercise of mind through which he 
passed before he was soundly and almost miraclously converted, 
or the great struggle through which he passed before he con- 
sented to become a minister of the gospel, or the opposition of 
his father, the encouragement from his wife and mother-in-law, 
the great disappointment of his Universalist friends. June 
12, 1803, at his own home, he and his companion gave them- 
selves to the Lord, and a family altar was reared. He soon 



DOUBLED AY— DOUGLASS. 115 

after joined the Christians, and became an active and able min- 
ister of Christ. 

In his thirty-seventh year, in 1803, his autobiography of 
eighteen pages, foolscap, ends. From this time, to the close 
of his eventful career, we have but little account. After la- 
boring faithfully in Vermont, for a time,' he moved, in an 
early day, to the State of New York, and took for his field of 
labor all the country from the Genesee River to lakes Ontario 
and Erie. He labored as but few men labored, and with pe- 
culiar success. Many of the churches in Western New York 
were organized by him. 

Through his long life of labor and success, he failed to lay 
up means of support for his declining years. In his old age, 
lie was very poor. January 13, 1834, his faithful companion 
died at Barre, N. Y. In 1852, the New York Western Con- 
ference proposed that a collection be taken up in all the 
churches for his benefit. In 1858, the old pilgrim lay off the 
coil of mortality. When he died, he was ninetv-two years 
old. 

David Douglass. (1781 — 1861.)— This veteran was born 
in Shroud's station, Ky., in 1781, in the time of the Indian 
War. When he was eight months old, his father was killed 
by the Indians at Gray's defeat, at the Upper Blue Lick, leav- 
ing the mother with three small children. In 1763, the boy 
took a job to quarry and haul stone, by which he laid up 
money enough to buy two hundred acres of land. Soon after 
this, he was married to Catherine E. Sidener, with whom he 
moved on the land. But, as was not uncommon in the State 
of Kentucky in those days, the title proved worthless, and he 
had to pay for the land a second time. 

He was converted in 1801, and commenced preaching soon 
after, holding to the Bible to the exclusion of all creeds, and 
"Christian" alone as a denominational name, not knowing then 
that any other people held the same views. He was baptized 
among the Freewill baptists, but did not join the church. 

Such was his energy and success that many of the neighbors 
fell in with his views. He had a meeting-house built on his 
ow T n farm, where he preached regularly. There were many 
Avho looked with contempt on the "Douglassites," however, and 
they styled his meeting-house the "Frog pond." The few who 
joined in this service did not mind the scoff. They came from 
far and near, crossing swift streams on rafts, and traveling 



116 DOUGLASS. 

three or four miles to the prayer meetings on week nights. 
Mothers with three or four children traveled on horseback 
many miles, as happy as if riding in the finest coaches, for 
their hearts were warm in the love of God. 

Besides attending to the few congregations around his Ken- 
tucky home, the Elder soon traveled far and near through In- 
diana, Ohio, and other states. He soon formed the acquaint- 
ance of Stone, Purviance, Kinkade, Hughes, and other fathers 
in the Christian Church, with whom he worked faithfully to 
the end of his long life. One peculiarity of this minister was, 
that, although he lived in a slave state, as soon as he was con- 
verted, he became a strong anti-slavery man, and blacks, as 
well as whites, were welcomed to his house and church. 

In 1825, he left Kentucky and moved to Decatur County, 
Ind., where he labored the rest of his days, and where he 
closed his useful life. And, on the farm he first bought in In- 
diana, his body was laid by the side of his faithful wife, in a 
private graveyard, reserved when the farm was sold, a few 
years before his death. He died at Milroy, Ind., January 23, 
1861, aged eighty years. 

In moving to Indiana, his trip was quite disastrous ; a noble 
boy, twelve years old, fell under the wagon wheel and was in- 
stantly killed. At the same time, one of the finest horses was 
killed by being stopped too suddenly. As soon as the Elder 
settled on his new place in Indiana, all hands went to work to 
clear and burn the unbroken forest ; and no sooner was the 
house put up for the family than a house for education and for 
worship must be reared also. A schoolhouse, large enough 
for a church, was put up in which, soon after, the Elder or- 
ganized into church relation a band of pioneer Christians. 

From this time till near the close of his life, no name 
was more conspicuous in the Central Indiana Conference than 
that of this brother. His peculiar forte as a minister was his 
great knowledge of the Bible. His arguments, by the appli- 
cation of passage after passage of the Bible, were overwhelm- 
ing. His wife, also, was a great help to him — not only by see- 
ing to things at home, when the husband was absent, but also 
by attending with him all accessible meetings, and bearing a 
warm testimony with her husband of the reality of religion. 

Like most of our early ministers, Elder Douglass went on 
his own expense. The meetings at his own place in Indiana, 
as in Kentucky, were carried on almost -entirely by himself — 
some meetings of several days costing him no less than fifty 



DOUGLASS— DUDLEY. 1 1 7 

dollars. Besides these, he gave liberally of his own money for 
the building of meeting-houses at other places. But, to make 
up for this, he had often to work by moonlight, as well as to 
travel many a weary mile, after preaching at night, in order to 
be back to his work next morning. By his thrift and econ- 
omy, with all his sacrifice, he laid up a nice property. After 
the death of his wife, he sold his farm and moved to the vil- 
lage of Milroy. He was then worth some nine thousand dol- 
lars. He lived comfortably in his new home with his daugh- 
ter Elizabeth. When first taken sick, he at once said he 
should not recover. But, with the old veteran, it mattered 
not. His work was finished, the companion of his youth was 
gone, and he was at peace with God and all the human family. 
He died in triumph. 

E. Drake. (1 798— 1864.)— This brother was born in 1798. 
In early life, he joined the United Brethren Church, became 
a minister in the same, and continued so for thirty years. At 
the first session of the Antioch Christian Conference, Ind., El- 
der Drake became a member, and continued so till his death. 
He died April 18, 1864. 

THE DUDLEYS. John Dudley. (1784—1849.)— 
John was born in the state of Maine, July 19, 1784, and died 
in Fountain County, Ind., at the home of his son-in-law, Mr. 
Jonathan Board, July 17, 1849. 

Before leaving his native state, he married Sarah Marston. 
He also joined the Freewill Baptist Church and became a 
minister in the same. In 1818, he moved to the neighborhood 
of Cincinnati, O., and soon after, joined the Christian Church 
at Burlington, O. He preached for the latter, and surround- 
ing churches for some time. In 1822, he moved to Warren 
County, O., and settled near the village of Red Lion. He 
preached in Warren and Butler counties, O., and Union Coun- 
ty, Ind. , for many years, with great success. 

August 9, 1838, he and Elder James McKirmey organized 
a Christian Church, onOsborn Prairie, in Fountain County, Ind. 
He had moved to this part of Indiana, at the above date, and 
these two veterans preached for this and surrounding churches 
for years. They were well suited to labor together, McKinney 
was a good sermonizer and Dudley was equally good in exhor- 
tation. Elder Dudley continued to labor in Foimtain and ad- 
jacent counties in Indiana, till death, highly respected by all who 



1 18 DUDLEY— DUNLAP. 

knew him, but not having a very rugged constitution, the ex- 
posure to which a pioneer minister is subject, soon broke down 
his health, and he died as stated, in his sixty-fifth year, full of 
labor and usefulness. 

Moses Dudley. ( 1870.) — Moses was a son of the 

preceding." He was a licensed minister of Union Conference, 
Iowa. He died July 11, 1870, not far from fifty years of age. 

Dudley. (1808— 1849.) — There was a minister of the 



above name who labored in the neighborhood of Randolph, Vt. 
He was an earnest, faithful worker, and had often expressed 
a wish that he might die in the pulpit. His wish was gran- 
ted, for he died while preaching, about 1843, aged thirty-five. 

Steven Dunbar. (1790 — 1843.) — This brother was born 
in Chelsea, Vt., in 1790, moved to Woodstock, in 1801, to learn 
a trade, and was converted in 1809, under the labors of Fred- 
rick Plummer. He was impressed to enter the ministry at once, 
but rejected the call till after his marriage. Soon after this 
event he entered the work in earnest, and continued faithful to 
the close of life. He died at Georgia, Vt., April 27, 1849. 

THE DUNCANS. John Duncan. (1821—1869.)— 
John was born in 1821, joined the church in 1842. Not long 
after that, he began to preach and joined the Miami Conference, 
O. During the war of the Rebellion he lost a son. January, 
1867, his wife died. After this, he gave up his farm and his 
entire time was devoted to the work of the ministry. While 
preaching to a church, which he had organized, in Henry 
County, Ind., he was taken sick and died after a short illness, 
September 6, 1869. He was a good man and a fair speaker. 

Duncan. — This brother assisted at the ordination of El- 
der Charles Cummins, in Giles County, Va., in 1825. 

James Dunlap. (1773— 1860.)— This brother labored for 
many years, faithfully, in Champaign and adjoining counties 
in Ohio. He belonged to the Freewill Baptist connexion when 
he first came among the Christians. He and a brother-in-law, 
Johnson, by labor, became identified with our people. 

He was born in Angusta County, Va., July 10, 1773. He 
moved with his father to the neighborhood of Lexington, Ky., 



DUNLAP— DUNLEVY. 119 

in 1784, and married Emily Johnson, sister of Elder Johnson, in 
1795. He joined the Baptist Church in 1800, was ordained a 
minister in that church, in 1805, and moved to Pretty Prairie, 
Champaign County, O., in 1812. He continued to preach at 
that place till 1844, when he moved to Jacksonville, 111. He 
lived there the remainder of his life, laboring* but little in the 
ministry. He died February 28, 1866, in his niuety-third 
year. While not a regular member of the Christian Church, 
yet he preached for that body more or less for about thirty-six 
years ; hence the insertion of his memoir. He was a strong 
and good man, 

John Dunlevy (1771 — 1824.) — This pioneer minister of 
the church was the son of Antony Dunlevy, originally from Ire- 
land. The mother's name was White, and was of Scotch des- 
cent. John was born near Winchester, Va., in 1771 ; the same 
year his parents moved to Washiugton, Penn. His brother, 
Francis, was a school-teacher and John received his early edu- 
cation from him. John's memory was retentive in those early 
days. It is said that he and a fellow pupil committed the entire 
Latin grammar to memory in one week. He became a fine 
Greek scholar, and a graduate of Cannonsburg Theological In- 
stitute, Penn. 

He commenced preaching about 1798. In the same year 
he became pastor of a Presbyterian Church on Eagle Creek, O. 
His manner of speaking was slow and logical with a slight im- 
pediment in his speach During this pastorate, in 1801, the re- 
vival which commenced on Cane Ridge, Ky., reached Eagle 
Creek, O., and Rev. Dunlevy, with several other Presbyterian 
ministers, was carried away from his mooring in Calvinism and 
entered heartily into the spirit of the movement. He was an 
active worker in the organization of the Christian Connexion, 
and continued a zealous advocate of the same till 1806, when 
he and all his family joined a Shaker Community near Harrods- 
burg, Ky. In 1824, a severe epidemic broke out in a Shaker 
village, at Busrun, Ind., and as the Elder was considered an in- 
genious physician he hurried thither on an errand of mercy. 
He succeded to some degree in his mission, but as he was ready 
to start for his home he took the contagion and died in 1824. 

He was a leading man among the Shaker community through 
life and the books published by him are highly valued by the 
brotherhood to this day, as standard works. His works were 
mostly on Doctrinal Theology. 



120 DUNWOODY— ELLIS. 

Samuel Dunwoody. (1799 — 1852.) — Samuel was born 
in Virginia, June 5, 1799. In 1801, his father's family moved 
to Pennsylvania, and in 1809, to Butler County, O. In early 
life, Samuel followed flat-boating on the Ohio and Mississipi 
rivers. 

In 1819, he joined the Methodist Church, as a probationer, 
but was never taken into full membership. In 1828, he was 
married to Maria Lander, of whom he had twelve children, 
and with whom he lived happily for many years. Soon after 
his marriage, he and his wife joined the Christian Church, and 
were baptized by Elder Nathan Worley. About 1841, he was 
licensed to preach in the Bluffton, Indiana Conference. His 
first wife died in 1849, and in 1851, he was married to Cath- 
arine Hall. From 1842 to 1849 he labored as a licensed min- 
ister, but in the latter year, he was ordained at a session of the 
AVestern Conference, Ind. at the town of Alamo. He died 
November 7, 1855, aged fifty-six years. 

William Dyer. — This brother was born in Pennsylvania, 
previous to 1800, and moved with his parents to Ohio, while 
young. His mother, who died when he was small, Avas a mem- 
ber of the Baptist Church, but his father and step-mother were 
members of the Christian Church. William united with the 
latter church in early life, and was ordained to the work of the 
ministry in 1818, by Elder Nathan Worley. He at once took 
a high position in the church. He was a young minister of 
excellent character and very promising, but he died early, leav- 
ing a young wife and small children to mourn his early death. 

John Eastwood was a member of the Tippecanoe Confer- 
ence, Ind. He died about 1863. 

Ebenezer Easty. — At the ordination of Elder Benjamin Tay- 
lor at Assonet, Mass., in 1811, this brother assisted in the work. 

John Edman. (1796 — 1870.) — John was born in Augusta 
County, Va., in 1796, moved to Licking County, O., in 1813, 
and, in 1828, embraced religion and was baptized by Elder 
I. N. Walter. In 1850, he began to preach, laboring faithfully 
in his own and neighboring churches until death, which took 
place near Homer, Ohio, June 10, 1870. 

THE ELLTSES. Thomas Ellis. (1790— 1839.— Old 
members of the Church in Hamilton and Clermont counties, 
O., speak highly of Elder Thomas Ellis as a man of God, and 



ELLIS— FLLOTT. 121 

a very earnest minister. By trade, he was a bricklayer, and 
laid the brick for the first brick house in Cincinnati. He 
had a wooden leg. It is probable that he was born about 1790, 
and died about 1839. All speak highly of him. He was a 
man in good circumstances, owning a good farm near South 
Bend, O. His house was the preacher's home, in those early 
days, and he was very generous and kind to all his neighbors. 
His preaching was of the exhortation kind, and he seldom had 
charge of a church ; yet he was counted a very useful man. 

William D. Ellis. (1820— 1865.)— William was born 
not far from 1820, and died about 1865, in Western Pennsyl- 
vania. He was a young man of great zeal, with a good educa- 
tion. He wrote much for our periodicals. He was a member 
of the Erie Conference, Penu. He labored, also, in Eastern 
Ohio. 

James Elliott. (1822— 1862.)— Of all the ministers, 
whose lives are recorded in this volume, there is none that the 
compiler has had such advantages to form a thorough acquaint- 
ance with, as with this brother. Yet such is life, and its 
changes, that in his case, after having lived in the same room 
for three years, I am unable to state the time or place of his 
birth. James was born in Ireland, crossed the ocean with his 
parents when a child, became an orphan when quite young, 
and was brought up by a good Samaritan, a member of the 
Christian Church, and the boy soon embraced religion, and 
joined the church of his benefactor. He commenced preach- 
ing when about the age of sixteen, and became a member of 
the Central Ohio Conference. He continued his connection 
with that body, until 1851, when he joined the Bluffton Con- 
ference, Ind. 

In early life, he labored with the church in Cincinnati. Af- 
ter awhile he went to Ripley, and, by the advice of Dr. Camp- 
bell, Brother Ridgeway, and others, he attended a high school 
in that place. In 1844, at the opening of the Meadville 
school, he entered as a student, and continued his studies there 
for more than three years. Daring his connection with that 
Institution, he took a high position. He wrote frequently 
for our periodicals. His industry w T as wonderful. He was 
well informed, especially on religion, temperance, and negro 
slavery. He read every paper that came to the institution. He 
traveled on foot, far and near to preach, and lecture, on the 

8 



122 ELLIOTT— FAIRLY. 

above subjects. Slavery was his particular hobby in those 
days. 

He left Meadville in 1848, and soon after was married to 
Miss Sarah Hoover, of Felicity, O. , who survived him only a 
few years. His ministerial life, after leaving Meadville, was not 
long. He preached a few years in Sidney, and Greenville, 
Ohio. After this he turned his attention to school teaching, 
and finally studied law, and became a law -partner of Hon. F. 
Haussarek, in Cincinnati. He still continued to preach oc- 
casionally, in the surrounding churches. In 1862, he became 
a war correspondent of the Cincinnati "Gazette," in the Army 
of the Potomac. At Martinsburg, Md., he took the camp 
fever. His wife hurried to his side and brought him on the 
way home, as far as Wheeling, Va., but while waiting there 
for a boat for Cincinnati, he died, in 1862, not far from forty 
years of age. 

Simon Emery. (1762 — 1844.) — This aged minister- was 
born in 1762. He labored in the State of Maine, and died 
there in 1844. 

Isaac Emily. (1806 — 1877.) — Isaac was born April 21, 
1806, was converted in 1849, and was ordained in 1851. He 
was one of the few ordained ministers at the organization of 
the Illinois Central Christian Conference, September 24, 1852. 
He died June 14, 1877, near Danville, 111. ; sermon on the 
occasion delivered by Elder Clapp. Elder Emily was a very 
unassuming man, of limited education ; but he was very suc- 
cessful in the conversion of sinners. 

THE EVANSES. Shubal C. Evans. ( 1860.) 

— Evans was a native of North Carolina. He was an itiner- 
ant minister for many years, and w 7 as quite successful in win- 
ning souls to Christ. He died in 1860, in North Carolina. 

Thomas Evans. (1811— 1879.)— This Elder was born in 
Pennsylvania, October 4, 1811, was married in Butler County, 
Ind., February 22, 1838, was converted in 1839, and was or- 
dained about 1865. He died at his residence near Danville, 
111., June 21, 1879. His health had been so poor since 1875 
that he had been unable to preach. 

THE FAIRLYS. Benjamin Fairly.— Elder Fairly 
was ordained in Milo, N. Y., in connection with Elders Potter 
and Lamphere, by Elder Badger and others, September 3, 



FA [RL Y— FAKN UM. 1 23 

1820. He was a member of the New York Central Confer- 
ence. In 1832, he lived in Phelps, N. Y., and preached there 
and at Marion. He subsequently moved to Michigan, and 
died at the residence of his daughter, at Burroak, in that state. 

Reuben Fairly was a brother of the preceding ; but, 
though older in years, he was not so prominent as Benjamin. 
Both had baen preachers in the Methodist Church before join- 
ing the Christians. 

Jonathan Farnam. (1805 — 1874.) — This minister was, 
like many others, impressed with the duty of preaching early 
in life, but postponed it till he was thirty -seven years old. He 
was born in Enfield, N. H., May 26, 1805. At twelve years 
of age, he had serious impressions, and was a praying boy. 
These impressions wore away for a time, and he made many ex- 
cuses. The death of a brother brought him back, and he was 
baptized, September, 1824. From this time till 1842, he la- 
bored, to some extent, as a lay brother, and was very success- 
ful. In 1826, he was married to Miss Stevens, of Enfield. 
He also taught school part of this time. 

In 1842, he held many meetings of great interest at Enfield, 
Grafton, Lebanon, and Dorchester, N. H. He was ordained 
at the latter town by Elders Morrisson, Davis, and Hershey, 
June 1, 1843. He was engaged as pastor in the churches of 
Marlow, Washington, Walpoie, and other places. In the year 
1852, he traveled 1,832 miles, made 131 religious visits, and 
preached 103 times. When he died, he left an account of his 
labors, and his report shows him to have been a man of in- 
dustry. September, 1856, he moved to Illinois, and joined 
the Northern Illinois and Wisconsin Conference. Two years 
before— in 1854, — he had buried a wife, father, and mother. 
He married, for his second wife, Laura P. Fish, of Wilmot, 
N. H. His labors in the West were abundant — in Illinois, 
Wisconsin, and Iowa. His salary was generally small, and he 
had to perform manual labor to support himself and family. 
He died at the house of his son, at Cornwall, 111., March 28, 
1874. 

Douglas Farnum. — Many opinions are entertained as to 
the real character and standing of this minister, but all ac- 
knowledge his talent and magnetism as a speaker. He was 
brought up in the State of Vermont, ordained by John Rand, 



124 FARNUM. 

Uriah Smith, and Elias Cobb. After preaching to great ac- 
ceptance in Vermont and New Hampshire, he visited Rhode 
Island and Massachusetts, in 1813. Great revivals followed 
his preaching wherever he w 7 ent. In Providence, R. I., a 
church was organized as the result of his labors, but his great- 
est power as a preacher, was manifested at Coventry, R. I. 
A man by the name of "Sam" Rice, lived in the latter place, 
who was a noted gambler, and who kept around him a wild 
set of men like himself. By some means, Farnum was in- 
vited to preach in this gambling house. He went, and one of 
the first that felt the power of the word was Rice. Most of 
his comrades were converted at the same meeting. Soon a 
church of hundreds of members was organized. The work 
spread far and near, and Farnum was idolized by many. 

It is impossible, at this distant day, to decide the merits of the 
controversy that arose in the churches concerning Farnum. 
Some of the brethern were anxious at this time to organize the 
churches into conferences ; for hitherto, although there were 
many churches in New England, yet in many places the church 
was amenable to no other body. Farnum, and his adherents, 
opposed conferences ; but about 1817 he was tried by a general 
conference that met at Hamton, Conn. , for some irregularity. 
Farnum denied the authority of the body to try him. His plea 
was, that he was amenable alone to the church, of which he 
was a member. His church, at Coventry, stood by him al- 
most to a man. Pamphlets were published for, and against 
him, and the excitement became great. 

In 1817, Elder Farnum, in company with a colony of church 
members, mostly from Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massa- 
chusetts, moved to Darby Plains, O. There were some seven- 
en teen or eighteen wagons in the company, and one preacher, 
at least, beside Farnum — Elder Nathan Burlingame. All the 
way out, Farnum preached wherever there was an opportunity. 
In Columbus, Dublin, and all through the Scioto Valley, re- 
vival followed revival. Several ministers of other denomina- 
tions, and hundreds of members joined the church. It is hard 
to tell how much fanaticism was mingled with these revivals. 
Farnum made the trip from New England to Ohio and back 
more than once. The second time he went to Ohio he took 
his family. The settlement on the Plains was soon visited by 
a fanatical class of people from Vermont, calling themselves 
"Prilgrims." These people had a prophet who was implicity 
obeyed. Their habits were filthy, believing that in order to 



FARNUM— FERNALD. 125 

be religious they must appear dirty. Elder Farnum opposed 
them and they finally went away, taking no members with 
them. These people were traveling in search of Zion under the 
guidance of their prophet. They finally settled on an island 
in the Mississippi river, but when the weather became warm, 
sickness broke out among them, their prophet died, and many 
of their members died also. The others scattered and the 
whole company was broken up. 

Not long after the Pilgrims, the Shakers came among Elder 
Farnum's flock, and these were more successful in making con- 
verts, than their predecessors. Elder .Nathan Burlingame, and 
family, old Squire Samuel Rice, (the Sam Rice of gambling 
notoriety, of Coventry, R. I.,) and family, and some other 
members, joined the Shakers. Elder Farnum moved with his 
family to Upper Sandusky, O. That part of the state then, 
was very sickly, and ague and fever broke out among the set- 
tlers. Many died of these diseases, and Elder Farnum was 
one of the number. He died soon after his removal. I have 
not the date of his birth or death. Those who were acquainted 
with Elder Farnum speak of him as one who exercised the 
most wonderful power on an audience. He had a musical voice, 
a fluent delivery, somewhat of a "holy" or singing tone. He 
spoke witli mouth, hands, feet, and, in fact, with the entire 
body. Many think he was fanatical in acting from a Divine 
impression in temporal things; others think that he had no more 
of these than other men of his cast, generally. It is very proba- 
ble, however that the time and circumstances under which he 
lived with the "Pilgrims" and Shakers, spoken of, had consid- 
erable influence on the man, and perhaps gave rise to more 
rumors of the kind than was true. 

Mark Fernald. (1784 — 1851.) — Few men exerted a great- 
er influence in the denomination than Mark Fernald in his day. 
He was a son of Joshua and Elizabeth Fernald. He was born 
in Kittery, Maine, March 9, 1784. He was the youngest of 
six children, four sons and two daughters, and was of English 
descent. His early associates were wicked people, and he par- 
took of their habits. He was sent to school early, but was a 
dull scholar. At thirteen, he undertook to learn the carpen- 
ter's trade. Before he was twenty he spent one year at sea. 
His mother was religiously inclined, but not converted, still the 
interest she had in religion was a help to the boy in his youth. 
His great temptations were drinking, dancing and card playing. 



126 FERNALD; 

When twenty-one years of age, he read the Bible and White- 
field's sermons, which made him sober and serious, but he had 
great prejudice against baptism by immersion. "His theological 
preference was to the Congregational church, the church to 
which his mother was inclined. In 1807 there was a great re- 
ligious awakening at Kittery, under the labors of Elder Moses 
Safford, of the Christian Church, and Stinchfield, of the Free- 
will Baptist. In this meeting, some of his own family were 
converted, and in December, 1807, after being under conviction 
since the preceeding April, and after passing through a rough 
voyage at sea he was baptized in the Atlantic Ocean. Such 
was the temper and earnestness of this son of the sea, that to 
be converted was to become a minister. It is true, it took him 
some time to come around, but all knew that it could not be 
otherwise. He soon visited the churches in Kennebec, Hal- 
lowell, Augusta, Waterville, and Sidney, Me. In the summer 
of 1808, he met Elder Elias Smith at Portsmouth, K H., and 
the September following he preached his first sermon at Kit- 
tery. On September 20, 1808, at the urgent solicitation of 
Elder Peter Young, who was lame, he was ordained at South 
Berwick, Me., by Elders Peter Young and Eph^aim Stinch- 
field. From this time, to October 16, 1825, when he was mar- 
ried to Jane Stevens, he traveled and labored, almost constantly. 
The wonder is that any constitution could stand, under such in- 
tense excitement. Even the day of his marriage, he had 
preached twice to his congregations at Kittery, and at the third 
meeting on that day, he was married in the public congrega- 
tion. 

Although he traveled through all the New England states, 
and often beyond their limits, he always retained his connec- 
tion as pastor with the church at Kittery. From 1807, until 
1825, he had no home of his own, and after the latter date, 
while he had a family, he traveled and preached almost con- 
stantly to the end of his days. He died at Kittery, the place 
of his birth, December, 30, 1851, aged sixty-eight years, and 
the forty-eighth of his ministry. 

The peculiar characteristics of Mark Fernald, were : 

1st. Strict honesty. He had no deception in him. 

2nd. Boldness. We feel as we look upon his likeness that 
there is no sign of timidity in that countenance, and we are con- 
firmed in this opinion as we read his fearless combats with bad 
men. 

3d. Sound common sense. There is much of eccentricity 



FERNALD— FIELD. 127 

in his composition. His whole life is full of oddity and yet 
under all, and through all, there is a clearness of ideas. His 
expressions may be odd, but they are wise — they are philosophic. 
We see these characteristics also in his passing through all the 
fanaticisms of New England, in his day, without ever being 
tinctured with them. The Jacob Cochran fanaticism was in 
his field of labor, so also was the Osgoodites'. He fought 
both, and vanquished them, with the strong weapons of com- 
mon sense. Then the Mormons, the "Come-outists" the Ad- 
ventists, that turned the heads of so many, never turned him 
to the right or left. 

4th. Great originality, He was always himself. It was 
Fernald and no one else. He doubtless used the thoughts of 
other men, but they were always well digested and seemed 
Fernalized before they were used as his own. 

These, and similar traits, made Fernald welcome to all our 
gatherings. In 1850, I remember of meeting him at the New 
England Christian Convention, at Newbury port. His ap- 
pearance was very common. He had none of the gloss or 
diction that many others, in that body, had. He was plain, 
and somewhat uncouth in appearance, yet when he spoke all 
listened. His words had weight in them. The most of those 
present had measured arms with him before, and tbey knew 
his strength. Similar receptions were accorded him every- 
where. The name of Fernald was a tower of strength among 
the churches in Xew England, for his goodness ability, and 
zeal were acknowledged by all that knew him. 

THE FIELDS. Lebbeus Field. (1780— 1879.)— Elder 
George S. Warren, sent me an excellent biography of this vet- 
eran. It would be a great pleasure to insert it here, word for 
word, but as it is too lengthy for my present purpose, I will 
here give the substance. 

Elder Field was born in Woodstock, Vt., February, 2, 
1780, and joined the Methodist Church, in 1803. He soon be- 
gan to labor in public, and in 1813, he was licensed to preach 
in the Methodist church. He had two brothers who w T ere min- 
isters. Hezekiah, with the Methodists, and Alpheus with the 
Christians. Lebbeus was married to Eunice Warren, an excel- 
lent woman, and a suitable helper to aminister. In 1807, he 
moved with his small family, ot wife and one child, from 
Woodstock, Vt,, to Watertown, N. Y. His father and family 
had moved to the same place before, and, as they w T ere pio- 



128 FIELD— FLEMING. 

neers, the place is called the "Field Settlement" to this day, by 
the neighbors. 

Before leaving Vermont, Elder Field met Abner Jones'and 
Elias Smith, and was favorably impressed with their liberal 
views, but when he gave up his Methodist doctrine, he had con- 
siderable opposition, and was tried for heresy. When he 
moved to New York the country was new, and the settlers 
were poor like himself. January, 11, 1813, he re-organized the 
church at East Houndsfield, where be had previously re- 
moved. He preached to this church steadily, until 1860. At 
the latter date, his voice failed, when his meetings became less 
frequent; still he continued to labor in the settlement to the 
extent of his ability to the end of life. The church at Hounds- 
field, was the first Christian Church, and Elder Field the first 
Christian minister in Northern New York. This church cele- 
brated its sixty-third anniversary, January, 11, 1880. His 
faithful wife died in 1865 at the age of eighty-eight years. 
He died, September, 6, 1879, at the great age of ninety-nine 
years, seven months and four days. 

In his habits, he was social and generous. His sermons 
were mostly of the textual kind, delivered with great earnest- 
ness, and full of Bible proofs to sustain his points. He was a 
man of strong constitution, and it required great strength to 
perform the double labor of preaching to so many churches, 
and to support his family by the labor of his hand. For 
many years he was quite deaf, and about one year before he 
died, he became almost blind. Thus shut out from the world 
by sight and sound, and the weight of almost a century rest- 
ing upon him, yet he was patient, and ever cheerful. His 
funeral was largely attended. Sermon by Elder J. E. Hayes, 
from Rev. 3: 12, and the old patriarch rests sweetly in the 
Lord. 

Alphus Field was a younger brother of the preceding. 
He commenced preaching in New York, went to Michigan, 
where he labored successfully for some time, and died in that 
state many years ago. 

THE FISHERS. Isaac and Josiah Fisher, father and 
son, were ministers in the Christian Church near Worthington, 
C, about 1820. Both died many years ago. 

THE FLEMINGS. Ebenezer S. Fleming. (1803— 
1850.) — From Miss A. A. Fleming, a daughter of the de- 



FLEMING. 129 

ceased, I gather the following : Ebenezer was born November 
22, 1803, in Chapinville, N. Y. His father died when Eben- 
ezer was young, and the boy was raised by his maternal grand- 
father. He worked on a farm, and learned the tanner's and 
currier's trades. In 1825, he was married to Miss Margaret 
Hannah, who became a great help to him in the acquisition of 
knowledge. In 1830, a young child of theirs was drowned in 
a tan-vat — which so affected the minds of the parents that soon 
after, they were converted, and joined the Christian Church. 
Such was the interest of Brother Fleming in this new life in 
Christ that he at once took a public position in the church, and 
in 1832, was received a member of the conference. The same 
year, he moved with his family to Genesee County, N. Y. 
Here, while living on the bank of a stream, the house and fur- 
niture were carried away with the flood, the family barely es- 
caping with their lives — and even this was effected by the rest- 
lessness of a traveling minister who was kept awake by the 
sound of the water. 

July, 1834, he was ordained, and the same year, moved to 
East Sparta, where, in the following year, a great ingathering- 
took place. In 1837, he moved to Steuben County, and the 
year following, to West Sparta. In 1839, he moved to Co- 
hocton, where he continued to labor with great success until 
1843. Many were baptized by him during these years, both 
in Steuben and Livingston counties. In 1843, he traveled as 
a colporteur through New England, North and South Caro- 
lina, and as far west as Indiana. In 1844, he was taken sick 
at Greenville, N. C, where he was confined a long time. 
While convalescing, he received a letter that his family was 
sick, and that one was at the point of death. He started for 
his home, though hundreds of miles away, but took a relapse ; 
after a long and anxious delay, he reached home in safety and 
found his family recovering. 

In 1845, he moved to Searsburg, where he took charge of 
the church and, the same year, began the practice of medicine. 
In 1848, his oldest daughter died suddenly, which was a great 
shock to the family. His last move was to Benton, N. Y., 
where he had a large practice as a physician, and labored in 
the ministry when he could. He died June 5, 1850, inconse- 
quence of being thrown from his gig,. 

Lorenzo D. Fleming. (1808— 1867.)— This was a 
younger brother of the preceding. From some of his letters, 



130 FLEMING. 

I learn that his father was drowned before Lorenzo was born, 
and that his mother died while he was young. There were 
four children in the family beside himself. He was born Oc- 
tober 9, 1808, commenced preaching in 1830, and was or- 
dained at Starkey, N. Y., February, 1832. He was a mem- 
ber of the New York Central Conference. From 1830 
to 1840, he labored extensively in the New England States , 
New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Canada. In 1838, 
he took charge of the church in Portland, Me. In 1840, his 
voice failed, and in 1841, he resigned his charge in Portland. 
He died in Rochester, N. Y., June 16, 1867. 

The Elder was a man of great energy. During the thirty 
years of his ministry, few men traveled and wrote more than 
he. He had studied medicine early in life, and his education 
was quite good. He had many revivals in all the places where 
he preached, especially in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Port- 
land ; yet, while he was a pathetic and sensational speaker, 
he was no less an advocate of education and a thorough organ- 
ization of the churches. His letters throughout show a mind 
entirely consecrated to the work of the ministry. Being used 
to writing, and his mind constantly planning how to advance 
the interest of the church, he immediately penned his thoughts 
on paper and sent them to one of our periodicals for publica- 
tion. 

He often visited Elder I. N. Walter in the city of New 
York, and at one time, he gave instruction to his children in 
certain branches, to the thorough satisfaction of his employer. 
In 1834, he met Alexander Campbell in Philadelphia, and 
compared notes with him in regard to the two branches of the 
Christian Church. Another time, he talks with Abner Knee- 
land ; then, with a leading Atheist. These conversations, no 
matter where occuring — on steamboats, stage coaches, or rail- 
roads, — are reported by him through our periodicals, to the 
edification of the readers. If the published letters of this El- 
der were gathered together in a volume to-day, they would 
make a book of great value to the Christian world. 

The Elder was a man of ready wit, fluent in conversation, 
of pathetic address, of an active and earnest spirit in the pro- 
motion of truth, and, withal, conscientious and firm in his con- 
victions. Still, when the Advent wave of 1843 swept over 
the land, he entered into it with all his energy, and labored 
hard to convince others — what he doubtless believed with all 
his heart — that the world would soon come to an end. His 



FLEMING— POOR. 131 

voice having failed, his ministerial labors, in the latter years 
of his life, were limited, and his attention was devoted mainly 
to his medical profession, in which he succeeded well. 

John C. Fleming. (1843 — 1876.) — Brother John was born 
in 1843, and entered the ministry in early life. He was or- 
dained in the Central Conference, Ya., in 1873. and had charge 
of churches in Rockingham and adjoining counties. A short 
time before his death, be moved to Pennsylvania, and labored 
most earnestly in a series of meetings at Mt. Hope till God 
called him from earth to join the ransomed above. He died 
January 31, 1876. 

Richard Flint. (1773 — 1830.) — This Elder was born in 
1773, labored mostly in the State of Xew York, and died of 
jaundice in Delaware County, N. Y., May 23, 1830. It was 
thought his disease was brought on by hard labor. 

Leonard Jackson Foor. (1815 — 18.66.) — Leonard was 
born May 31, 1815, was baptized by Elder Daniel Long in 
1834, and joined the Valley Virginia Conference, in 1^44. In 

1847, he was ordained by the Rays Hill Conference, Penn. 
After laboring for some years in Pennsylvania and adjoining 
state-, in 1852, he moved with his family to Poesy County, 
Ind., and in 1855, to Cedar County, Iowa. He died in the 
latter place, of inflamation of the brain, February 2, 1866. 

In early life, he had a strong impression to be a preacher. 
His struggle, before yielding to the call, was great. His first 
efforts in the ministry were also attended with peculiar oppo- 
sition and persecution, not only from the unconverted but 
sometimes from members of the church. In his early minis- 
try, he kept a record of his travels. Li 1817, he traveled 
500 miles, preached fifty times, and received ten dollars. In 

1848, he traveled 2,115 miles, preached 126 times, received 
fifty-one persons into the church, for all of which he received 
ninety dollars. The highest amount received by him for any 
one year was 8189.00 ; but his average salary did not exceed 
$100.00 — yet his labors were immense. At times, he felt like 
giving up the work, but these thoughts were momentary ; for 
while he saw souls sinking to perdition, as he expressed it, no 
power on earth could keep him still. It is doubtless true that 
the Elder shortened his life by excessive labors and exposures 
— but. to him. it was a cheerful sacrifice. 



132 FORD— FOSTER. 

THE FORDS. David Ford. (1778— 1868.)— David 
was born in 1778, was converted, and commenced preaching, 
while young, among the Methodists, with whom he continued 
to preach for about twenty years. But, on account of change 
of views on doctrinal subjects, he joined the Christians. Be- 
ing a strong man, he soon took a high position among his new 
brethren. He joined the Eastern New York Conference, where 
he continued a worthy member till death. He died Decem- 
ber 1, 1868, in his ninetieth year. By his will, he donated 
$500.00 for the benefit of the church in Canaan, N. Y. 

E. Ford was a member of the New York Eastern Confer- 
ence. He died about 1840. 

Mordecai Ford. (1806— 1867.)— This Brother was a 
quiet, good, but local man, living most of his ministerial life in 
Darke County, O. During many years, he was pastor of the 
church at DeLisle. He was born in 1806, was married to 
Miss Mary Tillman, March 27, 1839, was converted, and com- 
menced preaching soon after. In 1831, he was ordained. He 
continued a member of the Miami Conferene, O., till death. 
He died November 23, 1867. 

THE FORTNERS. Hiram Fortner. (181-2 — 1878.) — 
Brother Fortner was born in Montgomery County, Ky., Jan- 
uary 17, 1812, moved to Indiana in 1829, and settled in Vigo 
Count}^. 

He was converted, in 1831, and soon after joined the Chris- 
tian Church. In 1833, he was married to Susanna Lamaster. 
He began to preach in Indiana, but soon after moved to Iowa, 
where he made a full proof of his ministry. For many years 
he was a leading spirit in the church there, not so much for 
his talent, as a speaker, but for his promptness and zeal. A 
few years before he died, he moved to the village of LeGrand, 
for the purpose of education. He died there, December 
18, 1878, greatly lamented by the churches. 

Lewis Fortner was a Christian minister in the State of 
Kentucky, about 1825. 

THE FOSTERS. Jonathan Foster was a minister, liv- 
ing in Winchester, Va., in 1808. He was then a correspond- 
ent of the "Herald of Gospel Liberty." 



FOSTER— FREEMAN. 133 

John Foster was born about 1780, and preached near 
Mechanicsburg, O., in 1814, where he baptized Elder Daniel 
Long. He moved to the west some years afterward. 

Robert Foster. ( 1835.) — Brother Foster was a 

lay, not a clerical minister, yet he was a faithful public man 
for more than twenty-five years. For a time he officiated as 
pastor to the Christian Church in the city of Portsmouth, 
N. H. But the great life work of Brother Foster, was as edi- 
tor and publisher. When Elias Smith left the Christian 
Church in 1818, Robert Foster undertook the publication of, 
the "Herald of Gospel Liberty," and other publications, and 
continued the same most successfully, until 1835. During 
this period he was one of the leading men in the church. 
From the testimony of his contemporaries, he must have been 
a man of rare gifts, great reliableness, and energy. Soon 
after discontinuing the publication of the "Herald," he died 
of typhoid fever, at his horns, in Portsmouth, N. H., October, 
14, 1335. 

Thomas J. Fowler. ( 1878.)— Brother J. D. 

Gunter speaks of this Elder as being a very successful itiner- 
ant minister for many years, in North Carolina. He was a 
member of O'Kelly's Chapel, and married a granddaughter 
of Elder James O'Kelly. He raised an interesting family of 
children, and did a great service to the church. He died No- 
vember, 1878, full of faith. 

Jefferson Fox. ( 1875.) — This young minister 

died in Starkey, N. Y., February 23, 1871. Though not ad- 
vanced in years he was ordained, and had a family. He had 
been a student at the Meadville Theological School, Penn. 
At the time of his death, he was a teacher in Starkey Semi- 
nary. He died very suddenly. There was great lamentation 
at the time of his death, by teachers and pupils; for he was 
liked by all. He was a young preacher of great promise. 

Jesse Frazer was a member of the Central Conference, 
Ind. , and died several years ago. 

Samuel Freeman. ( 1857.) — The ministerial la- 
bors of this brother, were mostly confined to Miami and 
Darke Counties, Ohio. He was inclined to the Disciples in his 
views on V^tism. He died Februarv. 18. 1857. 



134 FROST— FUSOK 

Henry Frost. (1786 - 1857.) — For many years, Elder 
Frost was a prominent man, and minister in the State of 
Maine. He was born in Kittery, Me. , in 1786, commenced 
preaching in Water ville about 1808. He soon became a tal- 
ented and very useful preacher. He spent most of his time 
with the churches in the vicinity of the Kennebec river. For 
several years before his death, he had been failing in body and 
mind. In 1848,*his wife died. October 2, 1857, he died and 
was buried at Comville, the place where he labored for many 
years. 

Elder Frost was a writer of some note. In his ministerial 
work, also, he filled a wide sphere, for many years, but I have 
no materials for a longer biography. 

Silas O. Fuller. (1823 — 1859.) — Silas was a native of 
Comieticut, He was born in 1823, was converted in the Chris- 
tian Church, in 1841, commenced preaching in 1846, entered 
the Meadville Theological School, Penn., the same year, and 
continued his studies there about one year and a half. He 
was married to Miss Emily G. Elliott, of Sag Harbor, N. Y. 
His labors in the ministry were at Warners ville, K Y. , North 
DIghton, Mass., Milford and Little York, N. J. At times, 
he taught school and preached in the same place. He was 
very active and energetic, but under this double work, with a 
constitution not strong at best, his health failed. He died in 
his native state, June 20, 1859, aged thirty-six years. 

The Elder was a small, slightly-built man, of very active 
and lively temperament. During his stay at Meadville, he 
was quite industrious, and was considered a good student, In 
his ministerial labors, he was quite successful. If his life had 
been spared, he would, doubtless, have become a very useful 
pastor. 

William Furness. ( — 1868.) — This brother was of 

Quaker origin, and was considered one of the best of men. 
He was a preacher of tallent, but was local in his labor. He 
lived many years at Pleasant Hill, O., and filled a wide sphere 
as a minister and a physician. He was a member of the Mi- 
ami Conference, O. He died about 1868, being not far from 
sixty years of age. 

But few better men left the walls of Zion ; yet I have not 
been able to find items or dates of his life and labors. 

THE FUSONS. Jeremiah Fuson. (- 1863.)— 

During many years, this Elder filled a prominent position in 



FUSON. 135 

the ranks of the ministers of the Miami CoDference, O. He 
was a man of unblemished reputation, with a clear head, a 
warm heart, and was, withal, a master speaker. Such are the 
reports I receive from those that knew him. 

Jeremiah was born in Virginia. His father was a Revolu- 
tionary soldier. Jeremiah was one of seven brothers, five of 
whom became ministers — three of the Christian Church and 
two of the Baptist. All the schooling he had was thirteen 
days. When he was quite young, his father moved to Cham- 
paign County, O. Jeremiah was converted early in life, and 
was married when quite young. Soon after his conversion, he 
began to exercise his gift, and soon became a preacher. His 
first settlement as a pastor was with the Mud Run Church, 
near West Libery. After that, he lived in West Liberty, and 
labored with the church as long as he was able to preach. He 
died in the latter place about 1863. 

Elder J. B. Robertson says that as late as 1824, the Elder 
had to spell part of the hymns before he could give them out 
intelligibly ; and yet the man of thirteen days' schooling, by 
diligent study, became one of the most intelligent men in the 
community — a man who charmed the best educated by his 
public addresses. About 1838 or '39, he lost his voice, after 
which he was appointed Justice of the Peace — in which capac- 
ity he served with honor for many years. His zeal, in early 
liie, was wonderful. At one time, he and one of his brothers 
traveled sixty miles, on foot, to attended a religious meeting 
at Willi a in sport, O. ; and he felt well repaid for the journey 
by one sermon that he heard, from Elder Palmer, a mere strip- 
ling at the time. His argumentive powers were great. At 
one time, he got into a controversy with a minister of another 
church concerning some matter in Theology. This brother, 
feeling that he could not hold his own in the debate, called on 
another and an abler brother of the same church to come to 
the. rescue ; and the answer he received was, "If }'Ou are fool 
enough to have an argument with 'Jeremiah Fuson' you must 
get out of it the best you can ; you can't get me to meddle in 
the affair." 

His appeals to sinners were sometimes most powerful. At 
one time, when he was making one of those strong appeals, 
Elder Nathan Worley, than whom none understood an appeal 
of that kind better, grasped the arm of one sitting by him and 
whispered, "How can a poor sinner, stand that?" In ap- 
}>earanee, the Elder at first seemed awkward and homely, witli 



136 FUSON— GALUSHA. 

a loud, coarse voice ; but as he grew in intelligence, he became 
a fine-looking man, venerable in appearance, and with a soft 
voice. 

William Fuson. ( 1862.) — This was a nephew 

of the preceding. He was a member of the Spoon River Con- 
ference, 111. , at the time of his death. He was licensed to preach 
by the above conference in 1855, was ordained in 1856 or '57, 
and died of consumption April 5, 1862. He is spoken of as a 
man of good talent, efficient in conference, and greatly la- 
mented at his death. 

Gaher or Gahe was a minister who died some years ago, 
a member of the Southern Wabash Conference, 111. 

- Gallant is said to have been one of the charter mem- 
bers of the Miami Conference, O., in 1814. He lived on Rat- 
tle Snake Creek, near Deer Creek, O. 

Samuel Galloway. ( 1821.) — Galloway was one 

the first Christian ministers that preached in the church at 
Marion, N. Y. He moved from there to Darby Plains, O., 
where he bought a farm and lived and preached in that neigh- 
borhood for some time. While on a visit to his old home in 
New York, after holding several meetings among his old ac- 
quaintance, he w T as taken sick and died there, July 16, 1811. 
It is said that he was impressed on his journey back, and so 
remarked w 7 hile crossing the Scioto river that he should not re- 
turn to his home. It is said that he was a zealous and very 
devoted man. 

THE GALUSHAS. E. D. Galusha. (1818—1858.— 

Elder Galusha. w T as born in 1818, and was brought up in Cayuga 
County N. Y. He was converted in 1838, and in 1855 he 
commenced preaching in the State of Michigan. In 1856, he 
was ordained and became at once an efficient minister, and a 
pastor of two churches in Barry County, Mich. He died very 
suddenly, in 1858, after forty-eight hours of sickness, in Olivet, 
Eaton County, the same state. He left a wife, five children, 
and many friends to mourn. 

Thomas Galusha was a member of one of the Christian 
Conferences, in the State of Maine, and died many years ago. 



GAMMON— GAED. 1 37 

MathiasE. Gammon. (1864 — 1865.) — Mathias was bora in 
1804, was an accomplished and zealous minister, for many 
years. He died in Westport, Mass., January 24, 1865. He- 
was a member f the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Chris- 
tian Conference. 

Seth Gard. (1775—1845.) — Few men filled a wider sta- 
tion in life, in a plain unostentatious way, than "Uncle Seth/'* 

as he was familiarly called by his neigbors. He was truly a 
frontiersman. He was born near Morristown, Ky., March il, 
1775, moved to Ohio, near the mouth of the Big Miami river, 
in 1788, and was married there in 1796. In 1809, he went as 
Captain of the Militia, to the relief of Fort Wayne. In the 
same year, he joined the Christian Church, not far from Cin- 
cinnati, O., and soon after commenced his labors in the minis- 
try. From this to the close of his eventful career, he never 
wavered in his holy calling, though, as it was customary, in 
those early days in the West, men of talent were called into 
many secular positions and so was Elder Gard. 

In 1814, he moved to the State of Illinois and settled near 
Mt. Carmel, Wabash County. In 1816, he was elected judge 
of the county court, and the same year he was sent to the 
Legislature. In 1818, he was elected as member of the con- 
vention, appointed for the formation of a state Constitution. 
The great question in that convention was whether the state 
should be free or slave ; for in spite of the clause of freedom , 
inserted by Thomas Jefferson in the act of organizing the 
"North Western Territory," there were great efforts put for- 
ward, by the settlers from slave states, to make the states 
comprising that territory, slave. Elder Gard, knowing the 
deleterious influence of slavery on the people, and being a 
strong believer in the "rights of man to freedom" whether 
white or black, worked with all his power, to make his adopted 
state a free one, and as he was a chairman of that body, his 
position gave him a great power in bringing about the desired 
result. It is said that he was offered two thousand dollars, a 
large sum in those days, to give his influence in favor of slavery, 
but whoever made the offer, was mistaken in the man. Plain 
Seth Gard was not a man either to offer or receive a bribe. 

Although a prominent minister, for many years before, yet 
such was his sense of the sacredness of a minister's work, and 
such were his own secular callings that he never would con- 
sent to be ordained until 1836. Among his acquaintances, 
9 



138 GAED— GARDNER. 

many anecdotes were related of him. All these go to show a 
man of great originality and wit, Avith no pride or pretention. 
He dressed very plainly. He was a man of the people — a 
real pioneer. His sayings were treasured up by his neighbors, 
as something not to be doubted. A Methodist minister once 
observed in his presence, that he Avas going to heaven by the 
way of "Wesley;" Uncle Sethsaid, "I do not want to go that 
roundabout way, I want to go straight." 

For some time before his death, he was troubled with "gravel,' 
and died of that disease, July 25, 1845. For many years he 
was an authority in politics and religion, in South-eastern Ill- 
inois and South-western Indiana — the field of his labors. 

Matthew' Gardner. (1790— 1873.)— The "Autobiog- 
raphy of Elder Gardner," published by Dr. N. Summerbell, 
is so full of events that I can here give but a summary of the 
prominent ones. 

Matthew was born at Stephentown, Rensselaer County, N. 
Y., December 5, 1790. His father was of English descent, 
and of Quaker stock. His mother's maiden name was Hawk, 
and she was the second wife of his father. When six years 
old, Matthew had very serious impressions. In 1800, the 
family moved from Rensselaer County, N. Y., to Brown 
County, O. In 1809, Ma the w ran away from home, went to 
New Orleans on a flat-boat, and was taken sick while there, 
suffering much from poverty and disease. When his health 
began to mend, he started for home, on foot — a distance of 
1,500 miles. At Natches, at a horse race, he made his first 
and last bet, and won five dollars. He bought a mule — and 
it was taken from him by a ruffian. He spent some time 
among the Indians, and found them kinder and better than 
the rough whites he met in that country. After a long and 
tedious journey, he reached home, having made the distance 
on foot, in poor health most of the time. During that time, 
he tried hard to believe the Universal doctrine. 

After his return, Elder Archibald Alexander, of Kentucky, 
held meetings at his father's house, and some of the family, as 
well as Matthew, were converted. In 1820, he began to preach, 
and two years latter, joined the Kentucky Conference. May 
20, 1813, he married Sally Beasley, and, the same year, was 
drafted to serve in the army, and spent some time in Northern 
Ohio, in the war against England. In 1818, he organized the 
Union Church near Higginsport, O., and in 1819, the Bethel 



GARDNER. 139 

Church, Clermont County. In 1820, the Southern Ohio Con- 
ference was organized, he became one of its leading members, 
and continued so for fifty-three years. In the same year, he 
had a bitter controversy with McCalla, a Presbyterian minis- 
ter, which resulted in a lawsuit, a certain Methodist minister. 
Thompson, siding with McCalla. About 1832, he organ 
ized the churches of Bethlehem, Georgetown, and Pisgah. 
Brown County, O. In 1823, the peculiar views of Alexan- 
der Campbell were embraced by some of the ministers of 
the Christian Church, and the Elder opposed them with all 
the power of his strong nature. In this year, he published a 
Christian hymn book. In 1824, '2b, and '29, he published re- 
spectively the second, third, and fourth editions of the same. 
From 1825 to 1835, there is no event of note, though he was 
an active, energetic preacher to as many churches as he could 
supply, organizing new ones, and espeeiallv battling the sects 
around him ; and, withal, carrying on a large farm, support- 
ing a large family, and laying up money continually. In the 
latter year, while preaching at Jamestown, O., he was chal- 
lenged to debate the issue between the Desciples [the follow- 
ers of Alexander Campbell] and the Christians, by Dr. Win- 
ans, who finally failed to appear ; but in 1839 and '40, he had 
two debates on this issue with Elder John B. Lucas, a master 
debater at that time — the first at Jamestown, the second at 
Lebanon, AVarren County. 

In 1836, the trouble with the Disciples came to a crisis, 
and in many of the chinches, they had a stormy time. In 
1841, he had a debate with Thorp, a Universalist minister, 
at Aberdeen, 0., when Thorp was so badly beaten that he re- 
nounced the doctrine of Universalism at the time. In 1841, 
he published a periodical, "The Christian Union," and in 
1849, he issued a small volume on the subject of Masonry — 
"An exposure of Masonry, with an account of the abduction 
of William Morgan." Between 1849 and 1857, he published 
several pamphlets on subjects of Differences between himself 
and others, Concerning secret societies. Rights of the minority 
in conferences, and, in the latter year, one treating on the 
same subject, with the additional idea of Antioch College. 

September 20, 1869, his beloved wite, Sally, died. From 
this time to that of his own death, though he preached, trav- 
eled, and wrote much, yet it was evident to all that the end 
was not far off. In 1873, he made one of his yearly visits to 
New York. July 10. he arrived at the campmeeting, at Hy- 



140 GARDNEB. 

annis, Mass., where, on the 29th, he had a fall from the plat- 
form of the hotel, fracturing the thigh bone. He was taken 
by friends to the home of his daughter, Mrs. Hopkins, at Ben- 
tonville, O. He suffered a great deal, and was aware that he 
was crippled for life ; yet he went to different churches, and 
spoke — for it was not his nature to lie idle. The session of the 
Southern Ohio Conference — of which he had been a member 
fifty- three years — was the last meeting he attended. He de- 
livered an affecting sermon to the conference. He died Octo- 
ber 10, 1873, aged eighty-two years, ten months, and five 
days. 

Such is an outline of this Elder's wonderful career. He was 
a noted man, and would have been, in any other position he 
might occupy in life. Few men have had more true friends 
and bitter enemies than he, and, as such is the case, it is diffi- 
cult to state the merits and demerits of the man. The Elder 
was the last man to desire an indiscriminate eulogy of himself 
or friends, as is often evinced by his criticisms in our papers 
when unwarrantable eulogies were pronounced on deceased per- 
sons. Some of his leading traits of character were : 

1st. Determination. He never gave up on account of diffi- 
culties. 

2d. Promptness. He never was a half-way man, but what- 
ever he believed, he believed and practiced with all his might. 
He was always on time to all his appointments, and bitterly 
censured those that failed. He had one of the best watches, 
regulated for the purpose of being on time. 

3d. Activity. He was never idle. He engaged in the min- 
istry with great earnestness and continuance, as if he had 
nothing else to do ; for, at one time, he virtually had charge 
of the whole conference. At the same time, he published pe- 
riodicals, books, and pamphlets, held debates with giant oppo- 
nents, carried on a large farm, raised a large family of chil- 
dren, and made so much money as to become a leading direc- 
tor in one or two banks. 

4th. Order was a large element in his composition. Every- 
thing with him was in its own place. The large, rough pigeon- 
holes in his desk were full of documents, so arranged that he 
could take hold of any one in the dark ; and woe to the intru- 
der that should mislay one of them. 

5th. Concentration. He was a constant thinker. The 
theme of his meditation was turned over and over in his mind 
till it was viewed from every side. 



GARDNER— GARWOOD. 141 

6th.. Economy. While he gave largely for benevolent ob- 
jects, yet he wasted nothing if it could be avoided. 

7th. Controversy. The whole life of our subject, appa- 
rently, was in a whirl, of discussion. In public gatherings, 
where difference of sentiment occured, the Elder was always 
the leader on his own side. Sometimes he would face a whole 
congregation alone. He fought the strong elements of Disci- 
plism, Freemasonry, Universalism, and many other oppo- 
nents for long years ; indeed, it seemed as if controversy was 
a food to him. 

8th. Self-control. While lie seemed greatly excited in Ids 
debates, he did not hold malice. Some of his best friends, he 
used to say, were or trie Masonic fraternity — which he did so 
much to condemn. 

Jesse S. Garwood. (1848 — 1873.)— Jesse was born in 
Allen County, O., April 7, 1848, and died at Lynnville, Jas- 
per County, Iowa, November 26, 1873. He joined the Beth- 
lehem Christian Church, in Allen County, O., under the la- 
bors of Michael Mertz, in 1861. During the war, he became 
indifferent, but in 1866, on the death of a beloved sister, he 
joined the church at Swan Creek, and from this time until 
1868, when he preached his first sermon, his mind was con- 
stantly exercised on the subject of the ministry. For several 
years previous to 1868, however, he had been studying hard, 
and had acquired a good education, not knowing then that the 
Lord was preparing him for the gospel work. February 28, 
1867, he was married to Miss Sarah E. Watkins, who became 
a co-worker with him in the ministry, and who to this day, 
(1880), is a faithful and efficient minister in the church. Af- 
ter he began to preach, he at once entered heartily into the 
work, and organized several churches in Fulton and Wood 
counties, O. His whole time was occupied, and the work 
prospered in his hand. 

On account of poor health of himself and wife, in 1872, he 
moved with his family to Kansas, where they continued about 
four months, then to Iowa, and settled at Quarry, Marshall, 
"County. He now had his name transferred from the North- 
western Conference, O., which he had joined and where he 
was ordained October 13, 1869, and joined the Central Con- 
ference, Iowa, in 1872, where he continued until his death. 
During the short time he labored in Iowa, he had charge of 
the churches at Quarry and Le Grand, in Marshall Comity, 



142 GARWOOD— GILMORE. 

Walnut Valley and Fairview, in Poweshiek County, and Lynn- 
ville, in Jasper County where he died. 

Elder Garwood's career was short, but it was very hopeful. 
He was prompt to every call of the denomination. While col- 
lecting materials for this volume, several years ago, I had but 
few correspondents who wrote so well and took such interest, 
as our deceased brother. Little did I think then that his 
name would appear among the number of those gone before us. 

Jeremiah Gates. ( 1831.) — Brother Gates was 

born and brought up in the State of Vermont, moved to the 
State of New York, commenced preaching in 1812, and died 
in 1831. 

Henry Gault. (1829 — 1875.) — Henry was bom in 
Pennsylvania, May 22, 1829, moved to Ohio with his parents, 
in 1822, was converted in 1848. He moved to Indiana, and 
began to preach in the Church of God in 1852. Moving 
to Wisconsin he labored as a minister in the United Brethren 
Church until 1867, when he joined the Christian Church. He 
died of consumption at Buckland Center, Wisconsin, Jan- 
uary 2, 1875, leaving a wife and two children, with many 
friends to mourn his departure. 

Gifford. — There was a minister of this name that 

preached in the Christian Church, in Milford, N. J., for some 
time. He has been dead for many years. 

THE GILMORES. John Gilmore. (1789—1863.)— 
This good man was for many years a prominent member of 
the Ohio Central Christian Conference. He was a farmer by 
occupation, and was in good circumstances, but he labored 
quite extensively in Licking and adjoining counties in central 
Ohio. He was a smooth, easy speaker, somewhat given to 
doctrinal subjects, both in speaking and writing. He was 
well respected by all that knew him and considered as a man 
of excellent character. His education was limited, but his 
natural talent was good. 

He was born in 1789, heard the first Christian minister in 
1815, tried to be a Universalis^ He died, not far from Col- 
umbus, O., in 1863. The Elder, like many of his cotempo- 
raries, felt it his duty, as a minister, to do all he could in the 
name of Christ. With this feeling, he went far and near, 



GILMORE— GODFREY. 143 

preaching with but little, if any compensation, built a meet 
ing house in his own neighborhood, defrayed most of the ex 
pense himself, but in his latter years he felt that his policy 
was a mistaken one. 

William Gilmore. (1791 — 1868.) — The subject of this 
sketch was an evangelist for a great part of his ministerial 
life. He was one of seven brothers, that were all preachers. 
He traveled and preached through seventeen states of the 
Union. He was born in Chelsea, Mass., August 7, 1791. 
His parents moved to the State of New York, and from there 
to Clark County, O., when William was young. He was con- 
verted in the latter place, in 1806, began to preach in 1816, 
was ordained iu 1819, and was married the same year to Jane 
Ramsey. He died in Bowling Green, Wood County, Ohio, 
September 22, 1868. 

The Elder was a small man, heavy set, with dark complex- 
ion. In his intercourse, he was a little distant at first, but 
on further acquaintance, very sociable. He was a strong be- 
liever in the "Advent" doctrine, as to the speedy coming of 
Christ, for a time 

William Glendemixg. ( — 1816.) — William was 

originally from Munford, Scotland. He was a minister in the 
Methodist Church, until the separation on account of the ap- 
pointing of bishops, when he left in company with James 
O'Kelly and others. He was engaged in the mercantile busi- 
ness in Raleigh, N. C, before his death, and died there in 
1816, having partially lost his mind before. 

Newcome Godfrey. ( 1857.) — This brother la- 
bored in New York, Canada West, Northern Indiana, and 
Michigan. He 3ommenced preaching when forty years of 
age. He moved from New York to Canada West, and 
preached there in 1833. He moved from the latter place 
to Northern Indiana in 1837, and to Yergennes, Mich., in 
1839, where he organized a church in the sparsely settled coun- 
try, and labored so faithfully, that, through his instrumen- 
tality, the Grand River Conference, Mich. , was organized. 

In 1848, he was taken with rheumatism, and was confined to 
his room, and mostly to his bed, for three years or more ; yet 
such was his zeal that, when thought to be at the point of 
death, he gave out an appointment to preach at his own house. 



144 GODFREY— GORDON. 

The people came in crowds, and on his bed he preached with 
great power. He finally, contrary to the expectations of all, 
recovered his health, in a measure, and labored faithfully to 
the close of his life. He died at Vergennes, about 1857. 

TEE GOODWNS. Jedediah Goodwin was a good 
man and minister, and lived, preached, and died in South Ber- 
wick, Maine. 

Joshua Goodwin. (1788 — 1862.) — This brother was 
born in 1788, lived in York, Me., was converted in 1807, 
-commenced preaching in 1827, and died of dropsy in York, 
Me., January 2, 1863. 

George L. Goolet. (1817— 1862.)— This Elder was 
Dorn in Vermont, in 1817, began to preach in 1837, laboring 
mostly in Bradford, Vt., and died about 1862. He was a 
useful and good man. 

THE GORDONS. Hiram Gordon. (1830—1866.)— 
When this young minister died, in the beginning of his min- 
isterial work, at Fall River, Massachusetts, there was great 
lamentation all through the denomination. Our papers were 
full of the sad loss we had sustained as a church, in his sud- 
den departure, and great sympathy was expressed toward his 
young wife, and small children. He was considered a young 
minister of great promise. 

He was born in Charleston Four Comers, N. Y., in 1830, 
joined the Christian Church in that place, under the labors 
of Elder John Ross, in June, 1840. He attended several 
schools in the State of New York, was at Antioch Col- 
lege, Ohio, from 1853 to 1855. In 1856, he entered the ju- 
nior class at Union College, N". Y., and graduated in 1858. 
From 1859 to 1860, he taught in a school in Kentucky, after 
which he returned to Union College as tutor and at the same 
time, to study theology, but from there he went to Andov'er, 
Mass. , and finished his theological course there. 

In 1863, he was ordained as pastor of the church at Haver- 
hill, Mass., where he continued for two years. From there he 
took charge of the church at Fall River. His prospects were 
very bright, but before closing his second year in the latter 
place, he was called from labor to reward. He died October 
20, 1866. His body was taken for burial to his native place, 
^Charleston Four Corners, N. Y. 



GORDON— GRAHAM . 145 

William Gordon. — The late Elder Levi Pur viance wrote : 
4 'William Gordon was born in North Carolina, and went to Ten- 
nessee in early life, professed religion and united with the 
Christian Church. He moved to Ohio in 1816, and settled in 
Preble County. He lived with a maiden sister, and afterward 
bought a small farm a few miles east of Richmond, Ind. He 
was a very interesting preacher ; modest, unassuming, and 
diffident. In preaching, his premises were generally well laid, 
his conclusions fair, his arguments logical, and his discourses 
very entertaining and instructive. He had a retentive mem- 
ory and his quotations were correct and properly placed. He 
preached several years in and about New Paris, Eaton, Paint, 
and many other places. His gift was calculated to instruct 
and teed the lambs and sheep, to convince the skeptic, and 
shut the mouths of gamsayers. He was never boisterous, but 
always calm, lively, and spiritual. He was a man of unblem- 
ished character and of excellent spirit, a fit representative of 
the beloved disciple." As he was gaining in talent and effi- 
ciency as a minister, his sister lost her mind, and his care of 
her almost paralyzed his labors as a minister, for many years. 
He lived on his own place almost as a hermit. When the 
sister died, he re-commenced his ministerial labor again, but 
his career was short. He died soon after. 

Cyrus Gordy (1816 — 1878.) — Gordy was a minister ot 
the Deer Creek Conference, O. He was born in Pickaway 
County, in 1816, converted under the preaching of Elder 
Daniel Long, and was baptized by him, in 1834. He began 
to preach in 1838, and became a member of the Deer Creek 
Conference in 1837. He was married to Miss Sarah Hornbeck 
in 1838. For several years he was quite active in the ministry 
and had a prospect of becoming quite useful, but affection of 
the throat kept him from speaking, and he turned his atten- 
tion, mostly, to secular affairs. He died at Philo, 111., in 1872 . 

THE GRAHAMS Forous Graham. (1768—1830.; 
— This brother was converted at the time of the Cane Ridge 
revival, in Kentucky. He moved to Ohio, and settled in 
Madison County. He bought a large quantity of land on the 
Pickaway Plains, and was in good circumstances. For many 
years, he occupied an important position as a local, but effici- 
ent, preacher in the early settling of the country. Forgus 
Graham and George Alkire were neiahbors, and often labored 



146 GRAHAM— GRANT. 

together. The Elder was a tall, heavy-built man, energetic 
and zealous, living on his own farm, and having plenty, he, 
in a great measure, supported the church. Immense crowds 
would gather at his house for a protracted meeting, and the 
Elder gladly fed many of the congregation. It was a curious 
way to carry on church enterprise, but he felt it was right. 
Thus his time, talent, and property went freely to support the 
cause. 

He finally moved to the State of Indiana, and died there 
about 1830. In a letter of Elder Joseph Badger, who visited 
his house in 1825, I find the following : "At Pleasant Town- 
ship, Madison County, O., we were kindly received by Forgus 
Graham, a man of fifty-seven years of age, who had just re- 
turned from a preaching tour of six weeks, in Indiana. He 
had had a good journey, and felt encouraged. I surveyed 
with admiration his gray hairs, his smiles and tears while he 
gave an account of his journey. He visited the poor cabins in 
the wilderness, lay on the ground in the great prairie, where 
the wolves were howling around him, passed through hunger 
and fatigue, but found God to be with him. His spacious 
plantation at home, on which he had more than one hundred 
head of cattle, with other stock in proportion, reminded me of 
the ancient profession of Abraham, Lot, and Jacob. 

Jacob Graham was a member of the Eastern Ohio Con- 
ference. He lived in Athens County, O. , and died about 1874. 
He was local in his labors. 

Daniel Grant. (1812 — 1879.) — Brother Grant was a 
member of the Eastern Conference, N. Y., was born in 1812, 
and died at Delhi, Delaware] County, N. Y., October 30, 
1879. He embraced religion from a sense of duty, and with no 
excitement, in 1832, was baptized by Joshua Howard in 1837, 
and began to preach the same year. He was ordained in 
1842, and the same year he was chosen pastor of the Delhi 
church, where he was a member, continued his pastorate of 
that church until 1876, when on account of failing health he 
resigned. Beside the Delhi Church, where he was pastor for 
so many years, he preached, also, for the churches of Otego, 
Portlandville, North Harpersfield, Summit, Delancy, South 
Franklin, Roxbury, as well as churches in Delaware and Ot- 
sego counties. He was married to Miss Sally Tresly, in Delhi, 
in 1837. The Elder was a very useful man and filled a large 



GRANT— GREEN. 147 

field of usefulness for many years. At his death he left a 
wife and three children. 

THE GRAYS. John Gray died in one of the Western 

States, about 1826. 

John Gray was a minister, living in Fairfax County, Va- 
in 1813, he wrote several letters of interest for our paper?. 
His writings show him to be a man of ability. 

Samuel Gray was a member of the Southern Ohio Chris- 
tian Conference, lived in Clermont and Brown counties, died 
near Hamersville, the latter county, about 1865. He carried 
on a farm, was in good circumstances, but devoted consider- 
able time to the work of the ministry. He was successful as a 
pastor and had fair preaching talent. He was not far from 
sixty years old when he died. 

William H. Gray died in Indiana, March 5, 1825. 

THE GREENS. Curtis Green. (1802— 1861.)— This 
Elder was born in Madison County, N. Y., in 1802, converted 
in 1812, and commenced preaching when quite young. In 
1826, he was married to Miss Mary Bickford, and in 1841, he 
joined the Northern Christian Conference, and in 1843, was 
ordained. He was a hard word working man and followed 
the occupation of a farmer as well as preacher. He was a 
faithful minister in his field of labor. He died in Lewis 
County, N. Y., June 8, 1861. 

Green. S. G. Worry, of Henry, 111., speaks of a 

Christian minister of the name of Green that died in Gales- 
burg, 111., in 1854 or '55. He was traveling through Indiana 
and Illinois as agent for the "Gospel Herald," and preach- 
ing through the churches generally. . He was a faithful, good 



Jared Green. (1805 .) — This Elder was born in 

1805, converted in 1826, began preaching in 1828. He was 
tall and graceful, a good singer and speaker. He traveled 
with Elder Josiah Knight. In early life he was rather timid 
and easily discouraged. He died several years ago. 

John Green. — This young brother had a short but brilliant 
career. He was the son of Thomas Green, of Grassy Point 



J4S GREEN— GREGORY. 

Church, Madison County, Ohio, converted about 1830 under 
the labors of Elder Daniel Long, and soon commenced preach- 
ing with great earnestness. He was a member of the Grassy 
Point Church, and the Deer Creek Christian Conference. He 
died about 1887 or '88 in his prime, lamented by all of his 
brethren. 

Lewis Green. ( 1852.) — This was a brother of 

the preceding. He was converted early and commenced 
preaching at once. He joined the Deer Creek Christian Con- 
ference, O., and was ordained iu 1843. This young brother 
was zealous, and would doubtless have made an able minister, 
could he have devoted his entire energy to the work. He died 
iu Madison County, Ohio, December 20, 1852. 

Henry Greenslit. (1873 — 1869.) — From the different 
accounts given in our periodical at the death of this aged vet- 
eran, we gather the following : Henry was born in 1793, be- 
came wild in his youth, with very limited education. He was 
converted under the labors of Elder Levi Hathaway, and com- 
menced preaching soon after. At this time, he felt the need of 
education, and it was lucky for him that he had selected, and 
won a good scholar tor a wife, in the person of Miss Mary 
Wheeler, who taught her willing pupil useful knowledge. He 
soon became a well informed man and minister. 

The peculiar gift of the Elder, was as evangelist. He was 
ordained on wheels — in a wagon, in 1833. It was observed by 
many, that this circumstance was a true index of the Elder's 
life and movements. He was a fine speaker and very useful 
as a minister of the Gospel. He organized the church at 
-Providence, K. L, with many others, who stand up as pillars 
of honor to the faithful and efficient labor of the founder. 
He died at Scotland, Connecticut, October 25, 1868, aged 
seventy-six years, after spending more than forty years in the 
ministry. 

Samuel Gregory. (1818 — 1869.) — Samuel was born in 
Darke County, Ohio, December 2, 1818. His father, Deacon 
James Gregory, moved with his family to Montgomery County, 
Ind., in 1831. In 1832, Samuel Joined the Pleasant Hill 
Christian Church. He continued a member of this church, 
iiad for many years he was pastor of the same. He was a 
member of the Western Conference, Ind., and was ordained 



GREGORY— GREW. 1 49 

in 1843. The Elder was married twice, first to Miss Jane 
Hall, who died in 1856, leaving him four children. He mar- 
ried for his second wife, Miss Abigail McGilliard, who sur- 
vived him. For many years he had the care of an invalid 
father, crippling, to a great extent, his ministerial labors. 
His education was limited, but yet the activity of his mind 
enabled him to acquire considerable knowledge, especially in 
history, w T hich was his particular forte. He was a great 
friend of education and one of his greatest desires, next to 
that of true conversion, was to see the youths of the land en- 
joying this boon. On account of his local position, he was 
not so much known to the church at large as his talent and 
zeal would entitle him. 

He w r as an active and useful man in his own Conference. 
In 1863, he was elected a member of the Legislature of In- 
diana, where he performed the duties of his position with 
honor to himself, and to the satisfaction of his constituents. 
He served two terms as legislator. Soon after this, his health 
began to fail. In accordance to his accustomed energy, he 
tried every means to put oif the fatal [stroke. For this pur- 
pose he took a long trip through Kansas and Nebraska, in a 
private conveyance, returned with encouragement, but finan- 
cial difficulties and other troubles aggravated the complaint. 
He sold his farm in Montgomery County, and moved to Thorn- 
town, Boone County. Soon after, he was confined to his room 
and finally to his bed. He died of consumption, July 11, 
1869, aged fifty-one years. 

Heniiy Grew came to us from the Baptists, though, per- 
haps, Tie never joined any of our conferences. He was a great 
writer for our periodicals for many years. He agreed with no 
denomination entirely, but he was nearer the views generally 
held by the Christians, than any other, hence his identifying 
himself with the denomination. He wrote continually for 
our periodicals, for many years, with great ability, on the va- 
rious topics of the day. His home was in Philadelphia, for 
several years. From 1838 to 1842, he wrote from the above 
city. In 1838, he criticised Mr. Kay in regard to the influence 
of the Spirit. In 1840, on the superiority of the name 
"Church of God" to the common names adopted by the various 
denominations. At another time, against the practice of allow- 
ing unconverted persons to sing in the church. Another time, 
on the immortality of the soul, and vet another on the evils of 



150 GREW— GUIRY. 

American slavery. Doubtless, Elder Grew was a good man, 
with many hobbies, but iu the main his views were in harmony 
with those held by the Christians. 

Daniel Griffin. (1814— 1864.)— This brother, who 
filled an important position for many years in the bounds of 
the Central Ohio Christian Conference, was born in Ross 
County, O., May, 1814, moved to Union County, the same 
state, in 1831, converted about 1840, and commenced preach- 
ing in 1844, and was ordained by the Central Ohio Conference 
the same vear. It was but a short time after this that he took 
a high position in the church and conference, so much so that 
he became one of the leading members. His preaching talent 
was good, his earnest, plain, and pathetic appeals to the sinner 
had their effect on the people, and revivals followed his preach- 
ing. Elder Griffin's gift, however, was not so much in rousing 
the feeling, as it was in instructing the intellect. He be- 
came a student of the Bible and other good books, and being 
entirely reliable in all his intercourse with the people, he 
reached the position mentioned above. His first ministerial la- 
bor was in Union, but in 1855, he moved to Madison, and for 
many years, thereafter he labored there, and in Clark, living a 
part of the time near Plattsburg, the latter county. For the 
purpose of educating his children, he moved to Yellow 
Springs, Greene County, Ohio. In January, 1864, he went to 
Chattanooga, Tenn. , to visit a son Avho was sick in the army hos- 
pital ; while there, he was taken sick, and died among strangers. 

Aaron C. Grover. (1802— 1871.)— Elder Grover, for 
many years, was a prominent minister in Northern Ohio, and 
Michigan. He was born in the State of New York, in 1802, 
commenced preaching in 1834, died at the house of his son, in 
Wood County, O., October 24, 1874. 

William Guiry was one of the most talented of those 
ministers, that left the Methodist Church in 1793, with James 
O'Kellv. Iu October, 1811, he was a resident of Carolina 
County, Va., near Chilesburg, living near his father-in-law, 
George Phillips, where Elias Smith visited him. In all the 
general meetings of the day, William Guiry was always con- 
sidered one of the leaders. He was the author of several 
pamphlets, and of at least one book, of 331 pages — "The His- 
tory of Episcopacy," divided into four parts. It is a pity that 



GUIRY— HALE. 151 

the lives and labors of such men are not to be had. He died 
many years ago. 

Richard Gunter. (1766 — 1831.) — This brother was orig- 
inally a member of the Calvinistic Baptist Church ; but from 
conviction left it, and joined the Christians in an early day. 
He was a minister among the latter people about thirty years, 
highly respected for his kindness, zeal, and faithfulness. He 
was born in 1766, and died October 22, 1831, in his sixty-fifth 
year, in consequence of swallowing a piece of bone which set- 
tled in his throat. He was pastor of two churches at the 
time of his death, and was greatly lamented by the people x)f 
his charge. He was a member of the Xorth Carolina Chris- 
tian Conference, and his labors were mostly in Moore and 
Chatham counties, that state. 

Hafferty. — Elder Hafferty lived in an early day, 

and was a member of the Xorth Carolina Conference. It is 
said that he was the first to propose the platform, "The Bible 
alone for the rule of faith and practice." His suggestion was 
at once adopted by the brethren. 

THE HAGGARDS. David Haggard.— All I find of 
this brother is, that he was a minister connected with the Chris- 
tians in Kentucky, in an early day. 

Rice Haggard. — We have but a meager account of this 
brother ; but from what we have, it is clear that he was a 
leading man in the Reformation of the nineteenth century in 
promoting Christian liberty. Elder Haggard was a resident 
for a large part of his life of Norfolk, Va. Elders Joseph 
Thomas and Reuben Dooly visited him there. He is spoken 
of by all, not only as a good man, but also as an able leader. 
He was the author of several productions on the doctrine of 
the church, one of which, in particular, published in 1804, 
created quite an excitement among friends and foes. This 
was on the subjects of "Union of all the followers of Christ in 
one church." In this he proposed the name "Christians." 
His other measures of union were such as had already been 
adopted, and such as continue to be the platform of the Chris- 
tian Church to this day. He died before 1826, as I find from 
the "Christian Almanac." 

Hiram Hale. (1805 — 1874.) — From an excellent letter 
of Elder Young, of Romeo, Mich., we obtain the following : 



152 HALE— HALLADAY. 

Hale was born in Leominster, Mass., July 13, 1805. He was 
brought up in the Episcopal Church, moved to Erie County, 
Penn., about 1825, and experienced religion about 183*8. 
Soon after this, he united with the Christian Church at Fair- 
view, the same county. After this time, he preached occa- 
sionally up to the time of his ordination, which occured in the 
winter of 1842-43, in Cuyahoga County, O. After this, he uni- 
ted with the Erie Conference, Penn. xAfter eleven years la- 
bor in Pennsylvania, he emigrated to Omro, Wis., and 
preached occasionally until 1866, when he engaged in regu- 
lar pastoral work, which he continued till near the time of 
his death. He died at the home of his son, Quintus Hale, 
May 20, 1874. He was married twice. Two of his sons died 
in Southern prisons. He was a man of more than ordinary 
intellect. While his delivery was not the best, his ideas were 
clear and logical. His funeral sermon was preached by his 
friend and co-laborer, Elder Young, of Romeo, Mich. ; a pa- 
per of the deceased brother, against pomp and ostentation at 
funerals, was also read at the time. 

THE HALLS. Isaac Haj l was a minister in the State 
of Conneticut, where he lived, labored, and died. 

Joseph Hall. ( 1861.) — Our present subject was, 

for many years, a prominent man in the western and middle 
sections of the State of New York, as a minister, physician, 
and writer. He was a man of great energy, and of more than 
ordinary information. August, 1830, he was pastor of the 
church at Union Vale, Dutchess County, I\ T . Y., where he 
was ordained, at a general meeting held about that time, by 
Elders Abner Jones, John Spoore, David Ford, and Simon 
Clough. From Union Vale, he moved to West Bloomfield, 
N. Y., and was the right hand man of Elder David Millard, 
in the church there, for many years. His principal occupa- 
tion at that time was as a physician ; still he labored to some 
extent as a minister. He was especially useful in the busi- 
ness arrangements of the denomination. In 1859, he moved 
from New York State to Effingham County, 111., and died 
there, February 14, 1861, lamented by the entire denomina- 
tion — for he was generally known and appreciated. 

Eli H. Halladay. (1811— 1867.)— Eli was born in the 
town of Groton, Tompkins County, N. Y., March 14, 1811, 



HALLADAY— HALLEY. 153 

was converted in 1830, commenced preaching in 1834, near 
Seneca Lake, and was ordained at Sempronius, bv Elders D. 
Wade, D. Dodge, E. J. Reynolds, M. Wescott, and C. T. 
Butler, October 1, 1837. He was married to Miss Janet 
Fisher, of Harmon, Chautauqua County, N. Y., February 14, 
1840. He died in Fluvana, N. Y., August 30, 1867. 

In the commencement of his ministerial life, the Elder had 
great success, sinners were converted at all his meetings, and 
his school-house appointments increased on his hands so that, 
in a short time, he had four organized churches, raised, mostly, 
by his own labors. In 1841, he went from Tompkins County, 
and labored in Virgil and other places in Courtland County ; 
but as his salary was not sufficient to cover expenses, he some- 
times taught school in this neighborhood. Many of his pupils 
were converted under his labors, and some of them have since 
become useful ministers of the gospel. In 1843, he moved to 
Chautauqua County, N. Y., and soon became one of the lead- 
ing members in the Erie Christian Conference. In this re- 
gion, he continued to labor till death. With the exception of 
a short period, he preached for the churches at Parma, N. Y., 
and Washington, Penn. 

The Elder was a tall, sandy complexioned man, and was an 
earnest, fast, and emphatic speaker — as if his whole nature 
was enlisted in his message. All acknowledged his integrity, 
and his zeal in his Master's cause was unwearied. A widow, 
one son, and a host of brethren were left to mourn his depart- 
ure. 

THEHALLEYS. Isaiah Halley. (1809— 1869.)— Isaiah 
was born in Kittery, Me. , October 27, 1809, and moved with his 
parents to York, the same state, in childhood. When about 
five years old, he felt that he was called to preach, and he re- 
tained that impression through life. August 15, 1828, he 
united with the church, in 1841, he commenced preaching, 
and in 1842, was ordained in Swansea, Mass. In his early 
ministry, he labored in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ; but 
in his latter years, he labored mostly in New Hampshire and 
Maine. He 'died in Kittery, Me., July 20, 1869, aged fifty- 
nine years. 

Elder Josiah Knight, who was his pastor in Lynn, Mass., 
in 1841, speaks highly of him as a man, and as a valuable pri- 
vate member in the church — a man of large soul. He never 
married, but labored from place to place on a small income. 
10 



154 HALLEY— HAMRiCK. 



W. D. Halle y came from England, joined the Christian 
Church, and attended the school at Meadville about 1854. 
While there, he published a magazine. He preached in Wash- 
ington City, for the Unitarians. Though not firm, he was a 
talented man. He died while young. 

Abijah Hamer. (1800 — 1860.) — Abijah was bom about 
1800, m North Carolina, moved to Indiana about 1835, was 
converted, and joined the Christian Church in Henry County, 
Ind., in 1846. He began preaching soon after, and continued 
a faithful minister till death. He was a member of the 
JBluffton Conference, Ind., and was a good farmer preacher. 
He died in Henry County, Ind., January 14, 1860. 

William Hamiey. (1803— 1837.)— This brother was 
born in 1803, and died in King, Canada West, November, 
1837, aged thirty-four years. H. Wilson, who wrote his obit- 
uary, said that he was one of the best of men. 

Ebenezer Hamlin. (1779 — 1847.; — Ebenezer was born 
in 1779, and died November, 1847. He labored mostly in 
the states of Maine and New Hampshire. 

THEHAMRICKS. JohnHamrick. ( 1838.)— This 

Elder lived, for some time, in Highland County, O., and, for 
twenty years, he labored as a minister of Christ. For some 
years before his death, he was almost alone in that part of the 
state. April 2, 1838, I find a letter from him, in the "Chris- 
tian Palladium," calling for information of John 3:5, and 
Acts 2: 38 — passages used by the Disciples as he states it, "to 
prove water salvation." Elders David Roberts and John 
Green had been to visit him a short time before, and together 
they had organized a flourishing Christian Church in the neigh- 
boring county of Clinton, of Which the Elder was pastor. On 
the 24th of November following, he died in the triumph of 
Christianity. The account of his death is sent to the "Palla- 
dium" by Elder James Smith, who remarks that "his reputa- 
tion as a Christian w r as unsullied, and was of good report with 
his brethren and those without." 

Lewis K. Hamrick was a minister in the State of Ken- 
tucky, in an early day. He w r as warm and very pathetic in 
exhortation, and quite successful in winning souls to Christ. 



HAMRICK— HANSON . 1 55 

THE HANCOCKS. Lewis Hancock. 0813—1868.) 
— Lewis was born in Monongalia County, Va., February, 
1813, was converted, joined the Christian Church in Fayette 
County, Penn., in 1834, and soon after commenced preaching. 
In 1846, lie moved to Gallia County, O., and joined the East- 
ern Ohio Conference, in which he continued a member the rest 
of his life. He died in Gallia County, December 20, 1868, 
aged fifty-six years. 

Major Hancock. (1792— 1879.)— The subject of this 
sketch was born in Patrick County, Va., March 13, 1792, 
was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Adams, 1811, and the same 
year moved to Champaign County, O. He joined the Chris- 
tian Church in 1821, soon began to preach, and became a 
member of the Miami Conference, laboring mostly without 
compensation in his own locality. He died of dropsy, at the 
home of his son-in-law, Mr. Moore, of Bellefontaine, O., Sep- 
tember 20, 1879. 

W. B. Hand. (1802— 1869.)— The subject of our pres- 
ent sketch was born in 1801, was converted in youth, became 
a preacher, and joined the Deer Creek Conference, O. Dur- 
ing his labors in this field, the "Campbellite wave," as it was 
called, came through, and the Elder being a strong advocate 
of immersion, came near sinking. Writing to the "Palla- 
dium" from Pendleton, O., June 20, 1838, he says : "I am 
still on the shores of time, and not quite drowned by the new 
reform. About five years ago, I was traveling the circuit of 
Clinton, Madison, Fayette, and Pickaway counties, in this state, 
and the people who called themselves Disciples attended my 
meetings regularly, in many places, and pushed me into the 
water till I could find no bottom. I then got alarmed and be- 
gan to look around, but could see no shore. I felt disturbed 
in my soul." Afterward, he joined the Auglaize Conference, 
O., and lived in Putnam County. About 1853, he moved to 
4Story County, Iowa, and joined the Rock Creek Conference, 
where he continued the remainder of his life. He died in the 
above county, October 9, 1869. 

William Hanson. (1845 — 1875.) — William was born in 
England, August 15, 1845, was converted there in 1861, and 
joined the Primitive Methodists. In 1872, he came to Amer- 
ica and joined the Christian Church at Newton, Iowa, under 



156 HANSON— HAEDY. 

the preaching of Elders Sullivan and Jones. In 1873, he 
united with the Central Conference, Iowa, as a licentiate, and 
died October 3, 1875. 

Samuel Hardesdy. ( —1873.) — This brother died 

in Randolph County, Inch, February, 1873. He was married 
and began to preach in Shelby County, O. He moved to Ill- 
inois and became a member of the Central Illinois Conference,, 
in which, and the Western Indiana Conference, he labored 
with great success. About 1868, he moved to the neighbor- 
hood of Lima, O., and became a member of the North-west- 
ern Ohio Conference. About 1871, he moved to Randolph 
County, Ind., where successful revivals followed his labors 
everywhere. He was limited in education, but was a warm, 
friend of the same, and any improvement in the church. At 
the time of his death, he had charge of several churches, and 
was highly respected by his congregations, and was lamented 
when he died. He had been married twice, the second wife 
and several children survived him. 

John Hardy. (1779 — 1819.) — John was born in Din- 
widdie County, Va., November 17, 1779. When he was 
quite young, his parents moved to Kentucky. In 1801, dur- 
ing "the great revival," he professed religion, and soon after,, 
was impressed with the duty of entering the ministry. Being 
a timid man, he found this a great cross, but found grace to 
overcome his timidity. March 1, 1803, he was married to 
Rachel Downing, and in the fall of 1808, he moved with his. 
family to Preble County, O. During these five years, he had 
been a faithful lay brother in the church ; but he felt the " woe 
unto me if I preach not the gospel." 

After moving to Ohio, a new country, it was harder still to 
break loose from the care of a family to enter the great work 
before him ; but by the persuasion of ministering brethren, 
especially Elder David Purviance, who saw that he had a pe- 
culiar gift for public speaking, he consented to enter the field as 
a minister. In the summer of 1810, he was ordained by El- 
ders David Purviance, Hugh Andrews, and Richard Clark. 
In a short time, he became pastor of several very respectable 
churches. His education was limited, but by industry and 
studious habits, he soon became an able minister. His gift 
was more for building up the cause as a pastor than as a revi- 
valist ; yet he was instrumental in turning many to Christ.. 



HARDY— HABVEY. 1 57 

In the preparation of his sermons, be was methodical and sys- 
tematic. He had a pleasant voice, and his gestures were nat- 
ural. Generally, he labored in Western Ohio and Eastern In 
diana, w T ith an occasional visit to his old home in Kentucky. 
At the time of his death, he was pastor of the Christian 
Churches iu Eaton and Burlington, O. He was what might 
be called a natural orator. Though not having the advan- 
tages of education, yet he was not deficient in knowledge. 
He and his fellow- workers of that day had to encounter diffi- 
culties unknown to those of the present time ; but they met 
them manfully, and conquered. He died in the fall of 1819, 
in his fortieth year, lamented by all that knew him. 

Harricoff. (1835 — 1875.) — A minister of this 



name died in 1875, aged forty years 

THE HARRIMANS. Caleb Harrdiax.— It is prob 
able that this brother was not an ordained Elder, and, perhaps, 
never was a niBmber of any conference ; but he was a great 
worker in protracted meetings. Aud those who were con- 
verted under his labors considered him one of the best and 
most devoted of men. His field of labor was York, AYells, 
Kennebunk, and Kennebunk Port, Me. 

Johx Harrimax lived a long time in Xewton, X. H., and 
was considered a very useful minister, though his principal 
gift was that of exhortation. About 1866, he died, an aged 
man. 

Moses Harrdiax or Herriman was a New Hampshire 
minister. Though very informal, vet he was a u'ood man. 
During his sermons, he would often pray t.vo or three times. 
In his ministry, he was quite successful. 

Abraham S. Hartshorn. (1795 — 1869.) — This brother 
was born in Vermont in 1795, lived for a time in Calais, and 
then in Bslvidere, Vt. It was middle life before he com- 
menced preaching. He was limited in education, and followed 
farming as an occupation. He moved to the State of New 
York, a short time before his death, to live with one of his 
son.s. He died in Franklin County, N. Y., April 23, 1869, 
aged seventy-four years. 

THE HARYEYS. Enoch Harvey was a man of great 

physical frame, with an intellect in proportion. In his old 



158 HARVEY. 

age, he was a man of massive appearance, with a head appar- 
ently large enough for two. Such a man could go nowhere 
without being noticed. 

He was born not far from 1788, for when he died in 1870 or 
'71, he was something over eighty years old. What his early 
education or religious training was, we have not been able to 
find out. Many years ago, the Elder was a prominent minis- 
ter in the Deer Creek Christian Conference. He was for 
many years a co-worker with such men as John and George 
Alkire, Fergus Graham, James Smith, Daniel Long, Joseph 
Baker, and many others, who had studied so well the Son- 
ship of Christ that the Trinitarian, who had the temerity to 
attack this strong hold of the faith, departed a wiser, if not a 
better man; and well was it for them that this point of their 
creed was well fortified, for they lived in stirring and perilous 
times. The Elder was not the least of those giants. So well 
rooted w T ere these ideas in his large head, that to the day of his 
death it was difficult for him to preach a sermon without in- 
troducing the doctrine of the "Son-ship." On this, "Total 
Depravity," "Vicarious Atonement," "Election," and the 
"Sufficiency of the Scriptures for a rule of faith and prac- 
tice," there was not an f idea that the Elder had not mastered 
in all its minutia. Doctrinal preaching certainly was the 
forte of the old veteran, but this was not all ; when present- 
ing the claims of the Gospel, and a loving Savior to perishing 
sinners, he forgot his dogmatism and was often as tender as a 
mother. 

Many years ago, the Elder left the Deer Creek Conference, 
moved to Hardin County, O- , joined the Auglaize Confer- 
ence, and for many years, was one of its leading members. 
He died a member of that Conference at the age of more tha?i 
four score years, having retained his vigor to the last. 

I should judge that two peculiar traits in the character of 
Elder Harvey were firmness and perseverance. When his 
mind was once made up on a subject, one might as well change 
the current of the Mississippi, as to change his purpose. Pop- 
ularity, interest, and ease had no power to influence him, 
where truth was at stake. His conscientiousness being- 
added to the traits already mentioned, and we have a man 
that would rather suffer martyrdom than to swerve one iota 
from what he considered as truth. 

He was married twice, his last wife having survived him. 
He traveled quite extensively in other states beside Ohio. 



HARVEY— HATHAWAY. 159 

Rufus L. Harvey. (1795— 1876.)— This Elder was born 

in Lyndon, Vt, April 25, 1795, and died in Preble County, 
O., February 14, 1876. In early life, he was converted, and 
began to preach among the Christians, in the State of Ver 
mont. In those days, the Christians and Freewill Baptists 
were working together in many places, so that they labored 
often in each other's churches. For many years, this Elder 
was a member of the latter church. He was chaplain of the 
Vermont Penitentiary tor about fitteen years. In 1840, he 
moved to New York, and, in 1845, to Woodstock, O., where he 
re-united with the Christian Church. He joined the Miami 
_Ohio Conference, and continued in the same connection until 
death. In 1850, he buried his first wife; in a few years he 
married again, an excellent companion, who survived him. 
After 1846, the Elder served and labored as pastor in Main- 
ville, Warren County, Russelville, Brown County, Concord,, 
Preble County, and, likely, other places. He was an able 
preacher, with clear delivery, and systematic arrangement of 
his sermons. In his latter years, he became quite deaf, so that 
it was difficult for him to understand common conversation ; so 
for several years he did not preach regularly, but his interest 
in the work never ceased. 

Royal Haskel. (1787 .)- This Elder lived in the 

State of Vermont, and was born about 1787. He was a better 
exhorter and evangelist than preacher and pastor. 

THE HATHAWAYS. David Hathaway. (1792— 
1845.) — This Elder was born about 1792, labored in the minis- 
try in the neighborhood of Cabin Creek, Ky., in 1833, and 
preached through Northern Kentucky and Southern Ohio, for 
many years. Later in life, he changed his field of labor to the 
Central part of Ohio. He died iu the village of Catawba, Clark 
County, O., in 1845, thirty miles from home, while returning 
from a visit to his daughter in New Lisbon, O., of congestive 
fever. 

Levi Hathaway. (1790 — 1867.) — Levi was born in Mid- 
dleborough, Mass., February 6, 1790. His father became de- 
ranged the year following Levi's birth. He was the youngest of 
thirteen children. In 1797, when the boy was nine years old, 
his mother died, leaving him, at that tender age, an orphan 
indeed. After this sad event the family was broken up, and 



160 HATHAWAY. 

Levi was taken to live with his oldest brother, who was a pro- 
fessor of religion, to Welton, Me. He continued with this 
brother until 1808, when he visited his native place. At this 
time, he engaged to go as a deck hand on a voyage to the West 
Indies and Europe, and started from the port ; but the vessel 
being crushed in a storm, he gave up the idea of sailing. All 
this desire to travel was in order to quiet his mind, and banish 
his convictions. For the same purpose he started, on foot, to 
visit the distant Ohio. On this journey he was caught in a vio- 
lent thunder storm in the Alleghany mountains. During the 
tempest he despaired of his life, cried mightily to the Lord to 
save him, and vowed that he would go back to his home, em- 
brace religion, and serve the Lord to the best of his ability. 
When the storm was over, he thought of the disgrace and de- 
rision heaped upon him if he returned, after going so many 
hundred miles without seeing the majestic Ohio river. He 
finally proposed a compromise with the Lord, that if he was 
allowed to travel as far as Pittsburg he would then return and 
pay his vow made in the thunder storm. In Pittsburg, he 
was offered a fine chance by a gentleman from St. Louis, Mo., 
to go to that distant city. He concluded to go, but finally re- 
membering his vows, he dared not. He returned on foot, and 
traveled as far as the State of New Jersey, where his money 
gave out. He found a silver dollar and some coppers, where 
he was sitting under a tree. He considered this a sign that 
the Lord would provide, but by a certain sign he felt that he 
had the consent of the Lord to stay and work for a short time. 
He engaged to work for a man by the name of Halzy, of Mor- 
ristown, N. J. After this, he attended school for a while, and 
worked for another man by the name of Hemingway, at East 
Haven, Conn. For several months after, his conduct was 
most exemplary, and all the people were kind to him, but he 
finally joined the youth in their sports, and the darkness of de- 
spair gathered around him. He was one of the most miser- 
able of sinners. All hope was gone. He became sick. Death 
was just before him, and hell was keen for its prey. Finally, 
he became willing for anything and hope revived, when he re- 
ceived the evidence of pardon, and was baptized by Elder 
Daniel Hix, September 22, 1813, and soon joined the Chris- 
tians, a people that he never heard of until a short time be- 
fore, but found, on meeting them that they were the very peo- 
ple he could approve of fully. 

Soon after his conversion, the impression to preach came . 



HATHAWAY. 161 

back (he had these impressions when eleven years old), and 
with small resistance, for he was now completely in the hand 
of God. In December, 1815, he was ordained. At first, he 
labored as an exhorter, but soon ventured to take a text. Af- 
ter his ordination, he entered the work with peculiar energy 
and zeal. He was very successful as a revivalist from the lie- 
ginning. Sinners were converted by the hundreds. Kefor- 
mation followed his labors in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New 
York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Vermont. He traveled 
extensively, and wherever he went his preaching was blessed 
with the conversion of souls. 

In searching for the cause of his great power over the peo- 
ple, we may mention good sense and pleasant delivery, com- 
bined with great earnestness in his intercourse with the people. 
In addition to all these, however, there is one peculiarity in 
the Elder that we seldom find ir others : that leading of the 
spirit that he always felt in his early ministry. In sleep and 
in prayer he was impressed where to go, and would, under no 
consideration, disregard these ^impressions. If his heart was 
sad and a burden was resting upon it, he felt that he was in 
the wrong place and he hurried to change his course ; but on 
the other hand, if the indications were favorable — if his heart 
was reaching out after sinners — God was in the work and refor- 
mation would follow. With him, these impressions seldom 
failed. It is said by those who heard him speak when in the 
spiritual mood, that his eloquence was irresistible. The con- 
gregations were spell-bound, and so absorbed were they for the 
time, that they were insensible of surrounding objects. It is 
related, as an illustration of this, that at one time, when de- 
scribing the "resurrection", in one of these flights, a blind horse, 
which happened to stumble into the meeting house, advanced 
well toward the stand, but none of the congregation were sen- 
sible of the presence of the animal. 

In 1837, he moved to West Mendon, N. Y., and had a great 
reformation there. In 1841, the Polder lived in Royalton, N. 
Y., where he acquired a competency in worldly matters. He 
d;ed of cancer, July 9, 1867. He was a man, in many re- 
spects, peculiarly adapied for the work to which he was called. 
His very experience, before and after conversion, made him 
what he was in his active ministry — irresistible in his appeal to 
sinners. His son Warren is yet an educated and talented min- 
ister in the same church. His father, seeing the necessity of 
education in a minister, encouraged bis son to obtain what he 



162 HATHAWAY— HAYES. 

himself had been unable to acquire because of the circumstan- 
ces in which he was placed. 

Philip Hathaway. (1756— 1839.)— In 1756, this brother 
was born, and in 1789, was ordained, likely in the Baptist 
Church. In 1811, he was pastor of the church at Assonet, 
Mass. , and was a prominent actor in the reformation that gave 
rise to the Christians in New England, in connection with Ab- 
ner Jones, Elias Smith, Daniel Hix, and others. He died at 
Freetown, R. I., Juue 14, 1839. 

Norman Hawk. (1814— 1839.)— At Lewisburgh, Penn., 
November 6, 1839, at the age of about twenty-five, this brother 
died. Elder E. J. Holland, who was with him in his sickness 
and preached his funeral, spoke highly of him as a man and 
minister. 

Robeet Hawkins. (1778— 1850.)— The subject of this 
sketch, was born in 1778, moved to the neigbor hood of Browns- 
ville, Penn., in 1802, began to preach in 1812, and was for 
many years a prominent minister in that part of the state. By 
occupation he was a farmer, and in good circumstances, occu- 
pying a position somewhat isolated, as several of the churches 
in his vicinity w 7 ere mainly dependent upon him for preach- 
ing. He was w r ell versed in the Scriptures, and made free use 
of this weapon in his sermons. Those that knew him, re- 
garded him as a man of more than ordinary talent as a minis- 
ter, but that his secular affairs, which were large, kept him 
from devoting his entire time to the work of the ministry. He 
died about 1850. 

THE HAYES. Calvin Hayes. (1818— 1862.)— In 
the early part of his ministry, he was a member of the Mt. 
Vernon Christian Conference. He was born in 1818, lived 
for some years in the neighborhood of Martinsburg, O. , com- 
menced preaching in 1840, moved to Union County, O., and 
died there, June 2, 1862. The Elder was a studious man, and 
became well informed in Biblical and other literature. He 
was more calculated for a pastor than a revivalist. He was a 
man of excellent moral character. 

David Hayes. (1814 — 1873.) — David, the son of James 
Hayes, was born September 21, 1814, and died in Merorru 



HAYES. 163 

Iud., February 23, 1873. He was converted when quite 
young. March 11, 1834, he was married to Eliza Dearth, and 
in 1836 he began to preach. June 23, 1839, having become 
a widower some time before, he married Olive MeKinney. 
daughter of Elder James MeKinney. 

In his early ministry, he lived in Butler County, O. , but 
moved to Indiana and labored for many years in Clay and ad- 
joining counties in that state. About 1856. he moved to Sulli- 
van County, for the purpose of educating his children in Me- 
rom. He was very active in the work of securing the location 
of Union Christian College to Merom. He was very zealous 
in the ministry, and was successful in organizing many 
2hurches, as well as in the conversion of sinners. At one time, 
the writer was holding a meeting of days, in connectioD with 
this brother, at Fairbanks, Ind. The prospect for a revival 
was very discouraging, but Eider Hayes was not discouraged. 
That night, about one o'clock, on waking up, I heard my 
brother at my side, in earnest prayer to God for the success 
of the meeting. He spoke very low, but earnest, and con- 
tinued for some time. I went to the meeting the next day 
with the firm conviction that the meeting would be a success, 
and so it was. Many were converted and a church was or- 
ganized there as a result of that meeting. It was generally 
observed by those that knew him, that he was so persistent in 
his appeals, that be hardly ever failed of success. 

David Hayes was a faithful and talented minister in the 
Deer Creek Christian Conference, Ohio, from about 1810, to 
1839. He died in Gallia County, in 1862. 

Henry Hayes. (1786— 1845.)— This Elder was a bro- 
ther of John and an uncle of H. B. Hayes. He was born in 
Wake County, X. C, June 3, 1786, was converted in 1802, 
was ordained December 22, 1810, and married Mary Burn- 
ham, in his native county, in 1813. He spent live years 
itinerating in Xorth Carolina, but finally moved to Tennessee : 
and not finding any Christians in the neighborhood, he labored 
with the Protestant Methodists. September 17, 1845, he died 
in Carrol County, Tenn. 

John Hayes. (1767 — 1840.) — This was an older brother 
of the preceding and father of Elder H. B. Hayes, at one time 
editor of the "Christian Sun." John was born in Xorth Care- 



164 HAYES. 

litia, March 27, 1767, was converted, and commenced preach- 
ing among the Methodists. He was present at the Methodist 
Conference when O'Kelly and others objected to the system of 
Episcopacy, and was one of the members that withdrew from 
that body. He was a member of the North Carolina Confer- 
ence, and did a good service in the Christian Church during 
his long life. August 4, 1840, he died, aged seventy-three 
years. 

James Hayes. (1811— 1866. )— The subject of this sketch 
occupied a prominent position in the church, in Central Ohio, 
about twelve years. In 1811, he was born in Smithfield, Jef : 
ferson County, O. When he was quite young, his parents 
moved to Dublin, Franklin County. In 1827, he was con- 
verted, under the labors of Elder I, N. Walter, at Dublin. 
The impression tnat he should preach immediately came upon 
him ; but not receiving proper encouragement, he put it off 
till some years later. In 1834, he was ordained at Dublin, 
O. , and at once took a high position both in the church and 
conference. All acknowledged him to be a young man of 
more than ordinary ability. Though limited in education, yet 
by industry in the use of books, and by the peculiar grasp of 
his mind, he soon made up, to a great extent, for early defi- 
ciencv. 

In 1838 or '39, he visited Elder Walter in the city of New 
York, and labored there some time. The same year, also, he 
made an extensive tour through several states, east and south. 
Wherever he labored, his talent, energy, and usefulness were 
acknowledged. Before and after this journey, his labors were 
confined principally to Knox, Licking, and adjoining counties 
in Ohio. In those days, when every inch of ground had to be 
fought for, among the Christians, the Elder was not only a suc- 
cessful pastor, but became, also, one of the champions in the 
controversies of the day. In this, he was peculiarly gifted. 
As Elder J. W. Marvin, than whom none knew better, ob- 
serves, in writing his obituary, "His mind was not only com- 
prehensive and grasping, but was also peculiarly quick to see 
the drift of an argument." In truth, the Elder was a natural 
logician and reasoner. Friends never feared the issue when 
he took part in a debate. Still, he was not given to con- 
troversy in his preaching so much as many others, less ad- 
apted to this peculiar work. Generally, his preaching was 
practical, and many were converted under his labors. 



HAYES— HAYWARD. 163 

In 1843, he was called to the pastoral care of the church in 
Cincinnati, O. That year Avas a peculiar period throughout 
the United States. Many people were convinced that the 
world was coming to an end that very year. Many had be- 
come wild on the subject, and had specified the day and hour 
when Christ should come. Some of this class were in the Cin- 
cinnati church. The Elder was not a mau to lay idle nor to 
float on the current at such times. The man's whole soul was 
roused, he made a thorough examination of the whole subject. 
and to him, the one expression of Jesus. "Knoweth no mau the 
day nor the hour," was of more weight than all the prophesies 
put together. He worked with all his energy to prove that 
no one knew, or could know, the time. These efforts were 
too great even for his powerful frame. He broke down in the 
work, and though he gained strength in a measure, he never 
was the same man, physically, that he was before. He la- 
bored faithfully and efficiently, though for two or three years 
with wasted strength, till near the close of life. December 13, 
1866, he died of consumption, at his own home in Miller 
Township, Knox County, O., lamented by all the chinch. 

Physically, the Elder was apparently a perfect man, six 
feet tall, proportionally full, with blue eyes, of a florid com- 
plexion, with a sandy beard ; and to see him in the pulpit, 
with his keen eyes and peculiar energy, one would have 
thought that nothing but age and long labor could have bro- 
ken down such a frame, Beside his ministerial labors, the 
Elder was engaged, to a considerable extent, in writing. 
Many articles of his appeared in early volumes of the "Gos- 
pel Herald." Beside this, he was a member of the executive 
committee of the "Western Book Association, and was one of 
the most active members in that body in the production of the 
"Western Christian hymn book. 1 ' His death, in his prime, 
was a great loss to the denomination. 

James Haynes. (1789— 1844.)— This brother was born 
in 1789, was baptized by Philip Sanford, lived for a time at 
Lakeville, N. Y., and died in Sandusky, O., in 1844. 

THE HAY WARDS. Joshua Hayward. (1782— 
1840.) — This brother was born in Massachusetts, in 1782, and 
moved to the State of New York, when quite young. In 1806, 
he was married to Miss Lydia Barker, who survived him. In 
1809, he moved to Canada, and settled on the borders of Lrke 



v 



166 HAYWARD. 

Quanto. Being loyal to his native country, during the war of 
1812 against England, caused him much trouble. He finally, 
in company with three others, embarked in a boat on the lake 
to cross to the American side, and being perceived by the Brit- 
ish, a galley of twelve oars was sent in pursuit, but it being 
very foggy they eluded their pursuers,, and landed safely in 
the American camp. In three months his wife joined him on 
this side. 

During his youth, the Elder, by reading many deistical 
works, such as Paine, Volney, and others, became strongly 
tinctured with their doctrine. After which he fell on Univer- 
salism as more reasonable of the two, but in 1818, he aban- 
doned all speculation and sought a godly life in Christ, as 
his future portion. Soon after his conversion he felt im- 
pressed to preach, and on June 22, 1820, he preached his first 
sermon in Rutland, Jefferson County, N. Y. From this time, 
to the day of his death, the Elder was an earnest working 
Christian minister. His talent was not the brightest, yet the 
matter and manner was so original and natural that he never 
failed to leave a deep impression on his hearers. From 1824 
to 1826, he labored in Hartwick, Otsego County, N. Y. In 
that place and the vicinity, he spent the remainder of his life. 
In 1826, he moved his family to Laurens. In 1833, he 
writes that he is almost home, that his health was failing. He 
had labored in Otsego County, nine years, and before that 
period he had labored in Jefferson, Oneida, and Delaware 
counties. In the same year, writing from Unadilla, he said : 
"There are openings all around, but I am almost alone to 
travel in a region of country nearly sixty miles north, and 
south and about thirty east and west. There are now seven 
churches that claim my labors." When broken down in health, 
we understand that he traveled extensively, his wife accom- 
panying him, mostly, and preached the Gospel to thousands 
with good effect. He was filled with zeal to the last. A short 
time before his death he preached a powerful sermon from the 
word, "I am now ready to be offered." He died in Laurens, 
Otsego County, K Y., May 17, 1840, aged fifty years. In 
1845, a biography of his was published in pamphlet form "by 
his widow. Several of the sons and grand-sons of this brother 
are yet in the ministry of the Christian Church. 

Leonard Hayward. (1823 — 1873.) — This was a son of 
the above, and died in Otego, K Y., March 18, 1853. 






HAZE— HENRY. 167 

THE HAZES. J., David, and William Haze were 
ministers in the Deer Creek Conference, Ohio, about 1830. 

Sarah Hedges. (1791 — 1843.) — This sister was born 
about 1791, was converted among the Methodists when about 
eighteen years old. She labored with the Methodists nearly 
twelve years. In 1821. she joined the New York Eastern 
Conference, and was a worthy member of that body until her 
death, which took place in Chenango County, N. Y., March 
15, 1843, aged fifty-two years. 

She was married when young and had one daughter. Her 
husband was abusive at first, and finally abandoned her. 
The sorrow-stricken and deserted wife, sought consolation in 
religion, and devoted all her energy to the great work of the 
salvation of souls. In this she was very successful, many 
tracing their conversion to her earnest labor. The tongue of 
slander was used against her, but those that knew her best 
speak highly of her pure and devoted life. 

Jehial P. Hendee. — This brother was born in Randolph, 
Vt. In 1837, he lived in Gilsum, N. H. At a certain pe- 
riod of his life, he published a paper — either the "Gospel" or 
"Vermont Luminary" — in Stowe, Vt, He was a man of con- 
siderable wit, always on the move, calm and deliberate in his 
utterance, and always possessed of good nature. He was of 
poor parentage, and was in limited circumstances himself. 
He had a clear head, was rather metaphysical in his reasoning, 
was a good writer, and an able preacher. 

Thomas Henry. (1798 — 1879.) — Ireland gave us this 
faithful man, he having been born there February 2, 1798. 
After a long, active, and useful life, he died at Oshawa, Can- 
ada, September 20, 1879. In 1811, he came to America with 
his father's family, landing in New York in June. In 1813, 
he served in the British army, and at the close of the war, set- 
tled in Oshawa, where he continued during the remainder of 
his life. In 1816, his mother died, and in July, 1817, he was 
married to Elizabeth Davis, who died in 1829, leaving him 
with five motherless children. November 7, 1830, he mar- 
ried, for his second wife, Laurinda Abbey. 

In 1817, he joined the Methodist Church on probation ; 
but soon after, he met Elder Joseph Blackmar, on his way to 
Toronto, was converted under his preaching, joined the Chris- 



168 HENRY— HICKLIN. 

tian Church, and was baptized by J. T. Bailey, September 
24, 1825. The same year, he attended the first session of the 
Canada Conference, and never missed a session from that one 
till the one of 1879, during which he died. June 20, 1829, 
he was licensed to preach, and in 1832, was ordained at Dar- 
lington. For more than forty years, he was a representative 
minister of the church, in Canada. His home at Oshawa be- 
came the home of Christian ministers from the States and Can- 
ada. He was pastor of the church at Oshawa for fifteen years. 
Although he labored on his farm, and made money, yet he 
was constantly at work, visiting churches as a preacher, both 
on Sundays, week days, at funeral occasions, and as committee 
man. He visited the States quite frequently to attend Con- 
ferences, general meetings, and as trustee or director of our 
various institutions. Firmness was a prominent trait in his 
character, for he never turned to the right or left to follow any 
of the wild theories, such as Millerism, that carried so many 
away. Our brother was a bluff, blunt Irishman, bold, hon- 
est, and unyielding in the advocacy of what seemed to him 
the truth, yet with a heart as tender as a child. Among his 
many acquaintances none felt like doubting the truthfulness, 
sincerity, and ability of Thomas Henry, the Irish Canadian 
Yankee, for lie was cosmopolitan in his Christian sympathy. 

Alva Herman. (1814— 1859.)— Our present subject died 
about 1859, in Henderson, Texas. At one time, he lived 
near Providence, Penn. 

John N. Hiatt. (1812 — 1845.) — John was born on 
North River, Hampshire County, Va., about 1812. About 
1835, he was converted and joined the Christian Church, and 
soon after, commenced preaching. He was ordained in his 
own church by Elders Sine and Ferguson, and soon after be- 
came pastor of that and neighboring churches. About 1838, 
he was married to Miss Emma Parks. In 1844, he moved to 
Missouri and died there of fever in 1845. His wife and infant 
child died within thirty hours of his own death, leaving two 
orphan children. He was a sympathetic, able, and energetic 
preacher. 

John Hibbs was raised in Williamsport, O., in early times, 
and died in Fountain County, Ind. 

James Hicklin died in one of the Western States. 



HILDRETH— HIX. 169 

Ezekiel Hildeeth. (1806— 1879.)— Brother Hildreth 
was born in Chesterfield, Vt., September 4, 1806, moved with 
the family to Bangor, N. Y., in 1821. In 1828, his father 
died, after which, Ezekiel had the care of his mother and two 
small children. The family was quite poor, in a new country, 
and the boy had to work very hard. The same year that his 
father died, Ezekiel embraced religion and became an earnest 
Avorker in the church at once. He was baptized by Elder 
John Smith. January 5, 1841, he married Miss Mary Joy, 
of Brandon, X. Y., and the same year, was licensed to preach. 
July 21, 1854, he was ordained at East Dickinson, by Elders 
Allen, Berry, and Moffat. He traveled extensively as a min- 
ister, and labored in the churches of Stockholm, Potsdam, 
Moria, Dickinson, Bangor, and others. November 18, 1869, 
he was struck with paralysis, but improved and preached some 
for several years. In 1873, however, he was taken worse, 
and for six years was helpless, but cheerful to the last. He 
died May 8, 1879. 

The Elder was an earnest man, wholly devoted to the work 
of the ministry. He was limited in education, but his tenderness 
gave him great power over the people ; especially in sickness 
and on funeral occasions was his presence in great demand. 

Joseph Hinton was a minister of eminence, who lived for 
many years in Raleigh, N. C. He was born about 1800, 
and died, in the time of the war of the Rebellion, at his home 
in Raleigh. He was a man of education. He also practiced 
medicine, and stood high in the church and conference as a 
minister of ability, zeal, and earnestness. 

THE HIXES. Daniel Hix. (1755— 1838.)— There is 
not, in all the annals of the Christian ministry, a more noted 
man than Daniel Hix. He was born November 30, 1755, 
and died March 21, 1838. Rehoboth, Mass., was his native 
place. He was the youngest son of Elder John and Hannah 
(Galusha) Hix — born respectively May 10, 1712, and April 
17, j 713. The father was a minister in the Baptist Church 
for more than forty years. Daniel was a farmer and cooper. 
He also served nine months in the Revolutionary War. Dur- 
ing this time, he was unconverted and reckless ; but at times 
he was subject to solemn thoughts. In 1777, he was married 
to Mary, daughter of Captain John Kelton. This union lasted 
over sixty years, his wife dying September 26, 1837, aged 
11 



170 HIX. 

eighty-two years, and the Elder, as stated, died March 21, 1838. 

Two years after his marriage, he was converted under the 
labors of his brother Jacob. March 5, 1780, he preached his 
first sermon. At that time, he joined with eleven others in 
the organization of a church in Dartmouth — a branch of the 
church at Rehoboth, of which his brother Jacob had charge. 
July 12, the same year, he was ordained, and the year follow- 
ing, was regularly installed as pastor of the, at that time, Bap- 
tist Church of Dartmouth. He held the pastorate of this 
church till death. 

During his ministry, he received into membership more 
than 1,000 persons, preached 8,000 sermons, conducted more 
than 1,000 funerals, and baptized 1,500 persons. His con- 
nection with the Christian Church began about 1802 or '3. 
Elias Smith, on some of his preaching tours, went to Dart- 
mouth, and was received by the Elder as a brother in Christ. 
For this he was censured by his brethren of the Baptist Church, 
and was finally tried. But when the appeal was made to his 
own charge, they stood by him almost to a man. And so, 
though persecuted, the pastor and people united in a body with 
the obnoxious Christians. This added much to the strength 
and efficiency of the Christian Church in that part of Massachu- 
setts — for Daniel Hix w r as not only a strong man, but his ex- 
emplary life gave him an influence that few possessed. As 
stated before, the Elder followed farming and coopering for 
a part of his living, and consequently it is not likely that he 
was a man of much reading ; yet his peculiar good sense, in- 
dependence, and energy gave him an influence with his breth- 
ren that no book knoweldge could give. He was a leading 
man in the denomination to the last. In all the general meet- 
ings of those days, the Elder's very presence gave an influence 
to the body, and his advice had power in it. He preached 
many ordination, as well as dedication, and funeral sermons. 

It was said that he was quite eccentric — and there is some 
truth in the statement if it means the absence of formality. 
The Elder had but little of the conventionalism of the day, 
but was natural, always with his wit and bluntness. Many 
anecdotes are related of him. The following is one : The 
celebrated John Leland, a man much like himself, on a cer- 
tain journev in that part of the country, went to see his friend 
Daniel ; for, though they had never seen each other, they had 
had frequent correspondence, and by this had become strong 
friends. Leland, finding where the Elder lived, went into the 



HIX— HOLLAND. 171 

house without knocking, sat down in the corner opposite Mrs. 
Hix, and began to smoke, uninvited. Mrs. Hix was afraid, 
.-and hurriedly sent for her husband. When he came, he asked 
the stranger, "Who are you ?" Leland answered, "I am John 
•of the wilderness. And who are you ?" The Elder answered 
rat once, "I am Daniel from the lion's den." After parrying 
thus for awhile, they became known to each other, and em- 
braced and wept on each other's breasts, so glad were they of 
the privilege of a personal acquaintance. 

John Hix was a minister of the Western Indiana Confer- 
ence. He died in Carrol County, Ind., when about forty 
years of age. 

J. M. Hodgdon labored in Harrison, Me., and died there 
before 1875. 

Ellis Hodghson. (- 1872.) — This brother was a 

licentiate in the Blutfton Conference, Ind. He preached about 
three years, and died April 30, 1872. 

John Hoffman. (1791 — 1854.) — John was born in 1791, 
.and died from the effects of an accident, in 1854. He had 
not devoted his life wholly to the ministry, and expressed sor- 
row for it injiis last hours ; but his life was an exemplary 
one. 

Elihtje G. Holland. (1817 — 1878.) — The name of E. 
•G. Holland is well known in the church, east and west, as an 
eloquent preacher, fine scholar, attractive writer, and an able 
author. He was born in 1817, was a student in Courtland- 
ville, N. Y., joined the Christians, in his youth, and be- 
gan to preach quite early. He was very ambitious and de- 
termined to acquire education, but he studied too hard and be- 
came an invalid, the effect of which he felt the remainder ot 
his life. His mind was very active, but he was inclined to be 
absent minded. He acted as pastor in some of the leading 
churches of the denomination, and served in the same capacity 
for some time in the Unitarian Church in Meadville, Penn. 
Several books and tracts were published by him. Among the 
number are the "Life of Joseph Badger," essays on various 
subjects, tract on the "Christian Name," and others. In 1872, 
he went to Europe, and visited Germany, France, and the 
British Isles, lecturing on various subjects — Theology, Science, 



172 HOLLAND— HOPKINS. 

and especially on the History of America, with great success. 
After his return , his health being yet poor, he was engaged, 
for a time, in the manufacture of Rhus Wine for medicinal 
purposes. He died of dropsy, in the town of Canandaigua, N. 
Y., December 13, 1878. For many years, Brother Holland 
was a prominent man in the church. In the general gather- 
ings of the churches, he was generally called upon to preach. 
On such occasions he seldom failed to give good satisfaction. 
He was never married, so he had no permanent home. He 
was always well dressed, and made a fine appearance, but as 
he was quite absent-minded, it amused his friends to see how 
careless he was as to his surroundings, sitting down in a black- 
smith or butcher's shop, regardless of how his fine clothes 
were soiled. Many men of far less talent, were more useful 
than he in the general work of the church, but he had his 
place and filled it well. With all his variety of thoughts and 
tastes, he was always true to the church of his first choice. 

THE HOLLO WAYS. Lazarus Hollo way was a Chris- 
tian minister that lived in Georgia. He traveled in North Car- 
olina, in 1824, and died soon after. 

Zacariah Holloway was converted under the labors of 
Elder Joseph Thomas, in 1810. He traveled much. It is said 
he was a successful itinerant minister. 

THE HOLTS. Jacob Holt. (1790— 1844.)— Vermont 
was the native state of this brother. He was born in 1790, 
was converted, and commenced preaching in early life. He 
embraced the doctrine of Universalism in 1840, but returned 
to the Christian Church in two or three years. He died in 
1844. 

John R. Holt. (1812 — 1870.) — John was born and 
raised in Alamance County, N. C. Early in life, he was con- 
verted under the preaching of Elder Lewis Craven. He at- 
tended school, and graduated at the University of North Car- 
olina. For some years, he was President of Graham Insti- 
tute, the same state. The Elder was a man of ability, and of 
great usefulness in the church. In 1878, he died in Randolph 
County, N. C. , leaving a widow and a large family of children. 

Mason B. Hopkins was born in Rhode Island, and 
preached in Foster, in the same state. He is said to have been 



HOPKINS— HO WEY. 173 

earnest in the work and to have lived an exemplary life. He 
died many years ago, in his prime. 

THE HORNBECKS. Isaac Hornbeck. (1773—1856.) 
— This brother was born in Virginia, in 1773, was married to 
Margaret Funk, in Kentucky, in 1793, soon after moved to 
Ohio, was converted, joined the church at Williamsport, in 
1806, and soon after commenced preaching. In 1821, he, with 
Abram Halstead and John VanBuskirk, was ordained at the 
above place, by George Alkire, George Zimmerman, and 
Isaac Cade. He died July 27, 1856, from the effect of a fall. 

James Hornbeck. (1810— 1869.)— This Elder was born 
about the year 1810, and is supposed to be the first white child 
born in Madison County, O., where he spent his life, and died 
there in 1869, having spent thirty-four years in the ministry. 

Elias Horner died in Fountain County, Ind., about the 
age of fifty years. 

Rachel Hosmer (Thompson) was a female laborer, that 
had great success as a preacher in an early day in Vermont. 
She went there from New Hampshire. Her married name 
was Thompson, but as she was generally known by her maiden 
name, Hosmer, it is inserted here. She is said to have been 
tall, with a calm delivery, earnest, logical, and very searching in 
her description of sinners. In 1827, she went to Stowe, Vt., 
where she continued for some time, having joined in the work, 
with another female laborer by the name of Sabrina Lambson. 
The date of her death is not given. 

Benjamin Howard was a minister in the State of New 
York, in an early day. In 1825, he had an extensive revival 
in Cayuga County, N. Y. 

James Howe was a prominent minister in the time of the 
withdrawel of Elder O'Keily and others from the Methodists, 
in 1 793. He continued to labor in the Christian Church for 
gome years, as a talented and useful man. Perhaps Peter 
Cartright is right in his memoirs, when he says that he went 
back to the Methodists, as we have no account of his latter 
years. 

R. D. Howey was a minister in the State of New York, 
and died there in 1860. 



174 HOWL AND— HUFFARD. 

Gershom Howland. (1776— 1847.)— This Elder was. 
born in Boston, Mass., in 1776, moved to Hamden, N. Y., in 
1892. He was a member of the Methodist Church for forty 
years, and for thirty years was a minister. He still continued 
\n the ministry after joining the Christians, and was an earn- 
est, useful man. He preached a funeral sermon a week before 
he died and said at the time, that this was the one hundred 
and nineteenth funeral sermon he had preached and that it 
would be the last. He died triumphantly in 1847, his wife 
having died a few hours before. 

THE HUBBAKDS. Jesse Hubbard was a member of 
the Southern Wabash Conference, 111., and died in 1776. 

William Hubbard. (1792 — 1876.) — Our present subject 
was a minister that exerted considerable influence as a leading 
man, for some years. November 13, 1792, he was born, was 
converted in early life, in Franklin County, Ind., and soon 
began to preach. After his ordination, he baptized his own 
father. During many years, he was a constant worker in the 
ministry, and when he was old, and could not stand up to 
deliver the message to the people, he preached sitting down. 
Two of his sons, George and Thomas, became ministers in the 
same church. He died April 6, 1876. 

James Hudson. (1872 — 1855.) — This brother was born 
in New Hampshire, was converted when young, commenced 
preaching, and was ordained soon after. He labored success- 
fully in Dempster, N. H., and in 1839, moved to Shrewsbury, 
Vt. , where he continued to labor eight years. He then moved 
to Will County, 111., where he ended his days in 1855. In 
Illinois, he was successful in building up the cause in his new 
home, although he met with opposition. At the time of his 
death, the church numbered forty members. His sermons 
were well prepared. He depended more upon reason than 
feeling, in the conversion of sinners. 

Benjamin Huffard. (1805 — 1865.) — This brother was a 
native of Pennsylvania, and joined the church while in that 
state. In 1851, he moved to Indiana, and soon joined the 
Bluifton Conference, of which body he was a highly esteemed 
member till his death. He was born in Burke County, Penn. , 
and died in Henry County, Ind., in 1865, aged sixty years. 



HUGG— HUTSON. 175 

John Hugg. (1815— 1871.)— Elder Hugg joined the 
church, began to preach, and, in 1868, was ordained. He was 
local in his labors, although active and very successful. He 
died in Dexter, Meigs County, O., in 1871, aged fifty-six 
years. 

THE HUGHSES. James Hughs. (1773—1833.)— 
James was born in 1773, in Kentucky. He labored in Ken- 
tucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, and was highly respected 
for his goodness and devotion to the cause. Many of the old 
brothers and sisters have written to me of this good man, and 
all bear testimony in regard to his moral and Christian worth. 
He died December 10, 1833. 

Jesse Hughs. ( 1845.) — This Elder was a leading 

man in the Central Indiana Conference for years. He died in 
Bartholomew County, Ind., in 1845. 

R. Hultz. (1819— 1879.)— The subject of this sketch was 
a member of the Miami Reserve Conference, Ind. He lived 
in Pulaski County, and died in 1879, not far from sixty years 
of age. 

James Humphreys. (1810 — 1870.; — Elder Humphreys 
was a native of Kanawa County, Va., and was, for many years, 
a member of the United Brethren Church. He joined the 
Christians in 1867, under the labors of Oscar Kendrick. July 
18, 1870, he died at Cleveland, Ind. He was a zealous and 
devoted man. 

John Hutchins. (1800 — 1844.) — Brother Hutchins was 
born in 1800, and commenced preaching in 1828. He was 
very zealous in the ministry, although his health was poor for 
thirteen years before he died. He died in Troy, Me., in 1844. 

Austin Hutson. (1832 — 1869.) — Austin was the son of 
William Hutson, and was born September 20, 1832, in Madi- 
son County, O. The family moved to Jasper County, 111., in 
1837. During the first sixteen years of his life, Austin at- 
tended school but three months, during which time he learned 
to read the New Testament — that being his school book and 
favorite companion. In time, he became very familiar with 
the Scriptures, to which familiarity he attributed much of his 
success in the ministry, in after years. 



176 HUTSON— INGALLS. 

From 1846 to 1848, lie was in Kush County, Ind. ; during 
that time, he attended school three months. After returning 
home in company with William Markwell, the companion of 
his youth and his associate in the ministry, while engaged in 
secret prayer in the woods, he gave his heart to God. In a 
few months, he began a ministry which he laid down only 
with his life. He was ordained at Sugar Creek, Richland 
County, III, October 8, 1854, by Elders Foor, Hole, and 
Wood. He began laboring energetically, preaching wherever 
and whenever opportunity offered. In 1855, he moved to In- 
diana. He Avas pastor of the church at Sumner, ill., for 
nearly eight years, during which time he received 137 mem- 
bers into the church. He preached to the New Liberty 
Church, Ind., fifteen years, and received into the church 153 
members. But these were not the only churches for which he 
labored. Among others was the Bethsaida Church, in Posey 
County, and the Bethany Church, in Gibson County, Ind. 
As a preacher of the Word, the Elder was every where liked. 
Punctual to his appointments, faithful but kind in his admoni- 
tions, sound in doctrine, liberal and progressive in his princi- 
ples, and eloquent and earnest in his appeals to both saint and 
sinner, he fully commanded his congregations, and carried his 
hearers whither he chose. When the Union Christian Col- 
lege enterprise was started, he became one of its most efficient 
and earnest supporters. He served as trustee from its open- 
ing till his death. He wrote much, though chiefly for his own 
improvement. His sermons were full of Christ. He seemed 
to delight in portraying the glories of the cross, the riches of 
heaven, the joys of the redeemed. Pie strove to make his 
hearers acquainted with Jesus. 

He was married twice — the last time, September 18, 1861, 
to Miss Lou W. Wason, who survived him. He died Octo- 
ber 16, 1869, at Fort Branch, Ind. 

Gardner Hyck died at Palmyra, Mich., in 1871, after de- 
voting twenty years of his life to the ministry. 

Roger T. Ingalls. r ( 1821 — 1861.)— This brother was 
born in Windham, Conn., in 1821, was converted in 1836, be- 
gan to preach in 1841, and went to the State of New York in 
1845. He labored with great success in Columbia, Mont- 
gomery, and adjoining counties. He was a man of great abilty, 
and an excellent writer. He wrote a great deal for our peri- 



INGALLS— JACKSON. 177 

odicals, and was always interesting. He never was married. 
He became insane before his death, and died in a lunatic asy- 
lum in Pennsylvania, about 1860 or '61. He was a member 
of the New YoTk Western* Conference. From his writings we 
judge him a man otfine spirit, strong and clear in his mind. 

THE IRELANDS. Andrew Ireland was a native of 
Kentucky. He afterward moved to Ohio, and died in Preble 
County. He never was ordained, but was a good exhorter. 
He and John Purviance, David Kirkpatrick, and William 
Caldwell, went out, two and two, in a short time after the 
Cane Ridge revival. Kirkpatrick and Caldwell were ordained, 
but the other two were not. 

W. H. Ireland for many years was an active minister in 
Corinth, and Newport, Me., but during the Advent move- 
ment, he worked for this cause with great zeal. He wished to 
continue in the Christian Church all his life, but to the last he 
expressed a belief that the millenium was close at hand. In 
the year 1850, he moved to Rye, N. H., where he labored 
with great success. He was an excellent man. I have not 
been able to find the time of his death. 

Alfred Iselv was born in Alamance County, N. C, 
about 1814, and died in the same county about 1878. He was 
a member of the North Carolina Conference about forty years. 
He was a self-made man, an excellent preacher and a good pas- 
tor. He left a son in the ministry of the Christian Church. 

THE JACKSONS. Abraham Jackson. (1791—1871.) 
— Elder Jackson was a conscientious man, and his long life is 
a singular one. He was born at Plymouth, Mass., in 1791, 
was converted among the Congregationalists in 1812, was edu- 
cated for the ministry at Bangor College, Me., and was in- 
stalled pastor of the Congregational Church at Machias, Me., 
in 1821. In this field he had great success, and continued in 
the same pastorate until 1840, when he settled in Kingston, 
Mass. He then moved to Walpole, N. H., where he contin- 
ued for eight years, then to South Deerfield, Mass., then back 
to Machias, Me., and then back to Walpole, N. H., where his 
wife died in 1858. After more than thirty years of uninter- 
rupted pastor's work in the Congregational and Presbyterian 
churches, he embraced more liberal views. He examined 



178 JACKSON— JENKINS. 

Unitarianism, but found it lacking in spirituality, when he be- 
came acquainted with the Christians, and found them a people 
of his own taste and doctrine. At the age of sixty-seven he 
joined the latter body and labored faithfully the rest of his 
long life in that connection. With the Christians he labored 
at Freedom, North Fall River, Rochester, and other places in 
Massachusetts. He was a strong advocate of the Christian doc- 
trine. He was not a fluent extempore speaker, not having 
practiced that kind of speaking in his early ministry, but he 
was a strong, clear headed reasoner, and well-informed on the 
subject of Theology. He died April 12, 1874, aged eighty- 
three years. 

James Jackson. This brother was one of those who joined 
the Christian Church at the time of the separation from the 
Methodists in North Carolina, in 1793, and died where he had 
lived for years, in Cumberland County, N. C. 

Joseph Jackson was born in 1774, and for many years 
before his death labored in Western Indiana and Illinois. He 
was considered a good man. 

J. James. ( 1852.) — Elder James was a member 

of the Kentucky Christian Conference, and died in 1855. 

Benjamin Janer lived in North Carolina. He died about 
1800, soon after joining the Christian Church. 

THE JANNEYS. Amos Janney. (1779— 1809.)— El- 
der Janney was born in Lowden County, Va., in 1779, and 
lived there until manhood, when he moved to Ohio, where he 
united with the Christians. In 1837, he moved to Indiana, 
where he lived until his death, July 28, 1859. He was a 
faithful minister, preaching by both precept and example, for 
nearly forty years. 

John Janney. ( 1868.) — Elder Janney was a mem- 
ber of the Bluffton Conference, Ind., and died in 1868. 

Absalom Jenkins. (1794 — 1874.) — Absalom was born in 
Preston County, Va., July 1, 1794, was married to Elizabeth 
Board in 1816, moved to Warren. County, in 1819, and was 
baptized by Elder Daniel Call, in 1839. Not long after the 



JENKINS— JOHN SON. 170 

latter event, he moved to" Fountain County, Ind., where he 
became a leading member of the Osborn Prairie Christian 
Church, and soon after began to speak in public. He was or- 
dained in 1852, and moved to Roseville, 111., in 1865. He con- 
tinued to labor in the bounds of the Central Illinois Conference 
until death. In his old age, he had one of his lower limbs 
amputated. He suffered much, but he was very patient under 
all his afflictions. Elder Jenkins was not a talented preacher, 
but being a good man, by his example he exerted an influence 
for good wherever he labored. He died at his home at Rose- 
ville, March 8, 1874, his excellent wife having preceded him 
two years before. 

Isaac Jessup. (1789 — 1848.) — Isaac was bom in 1780, 
commenced preaching in 1823, being one of the first Christian 
preachers in South-eastern Indiana. His labor was principally 
in Ohio, Switzerland, and adjoining counties in Indiana. He 
had a large family and was in limited circumstances, but for all 
these disadvantages, he labored extensively and successfully. 
He was- limited in education but well acquainted with the 
truths of the Bible and ever ready to use them. He died near 
Allensville, Ind., November 5, 1843. He was well thought 
of by his neighbors, and even those who opposed his doctrine 
had great respect for his Christian character. 

THE JOHNSONS. Jacob Johnson. (1799—1879.)— 
This brother was born in Whitchurch, Canada, June 26, 1810. 
In early life he was quite an opposer of religion, but after his 
conversion, he became very zealous. He did not believe in 
stated salaries being paid to ministers, but was liberal to those 
whom he considered faithful ones. He died February 20, 
1876, leaving a wife and eight children. 

Jacob Johnson was born in 1775, and was ordained in the 
Methodist Church, by Bishop Asbury, but he afterward 
rejected creeds and dicipline, and hence could not work in that 
church. In 1828, he was living in Covington County, Ala., 
and had organized three Christian churches. Fifteen months 
before this he had met Elder McGaughy, and had then united 
with the Christians. Of his death and last years, we have no 
definite account, 

J. L. Johnson. (1799— 1872.)— This minister was en- 
gaged in preaching for about thirty years. For many yea: s. 



180 JOHNSON— JONES. 

he was a member of the Southern Wabash Conference, 111., 
but for the purpose of educating his children, he moved to 
Merom, Ind., about 1860. He was married three times, his 
last wife surviving him. He was born October 18, 1799, and 
died in Merom, Ind., December 17, 1872. He was not a 
very great preacher, but an exceedingly well-posted man, espe- 
cially in the general measures of his own church. He wrote a 
great deal for our periodicals. Few of our ministers sent me 
as much material for this volume as Elder Johnson. He did 
his life work faithfully and died in the triumph of faith. 

James Johnson was far advanced in years in 1828, when 
preaching on Darby Plains. He was a brother-in-law of El- 
der James Dunlap, both belonging to the Baptist Church, but 
they preached for the Christian churches on the Plains for sev- 
eral years. Brother Johnson was a good and faithful worker 
until his death, which occurred about 1840, being at that time 
about seventy years old. 

Jordan Johnson. (1815 — 1861.)— This brother was bom 
near Lynchburg, Va., October 25, 1815, but was brought up 
near Liberty, Ind. His parents were Quakers. In 1835, he 
joined the Silver Creek Church, and was baptized by Elder 
Thomas Carr. In 1849, he commenced preaching, and was 
ordained in two or three years after, in the Western Indiana 
Conference, by Elders Wilkins, Gregory, and Thomas. He 
was married three times, and had six children. He was a good, 
earnest, zealous man, but Avith moderate education. He 
always had charge ol two or three churches, and was a faithful, 
energetic, and successful pastor. He died in Boone County, 
Ind., July 23, 1861. 

THE JONESES. Abner Jones. (1772— 1841.)— This 
Elder was born in Royalston, Mass., April 28, 1872. His par- 
ents were members of the Baptist Church, his father being a 
leading man, and quite Calvinistic in his views. 

When Abner was eight years old, his parents moved to 
Bridge water, Vt. , where he remained until the death of his 
father. Several years passed before he enjoyed the evidences 
of conversion, as during the illness of his father, an ungodly 
brother had returned home, and was the means of leading 
Abner astray, but his brother dying in great fear, influenced 
our subject then, to turn entirely to God, and take an active 



JONES. 181 

part in the church. At the age of twenty-one, he went to 
Hanover, where he continued two years, preparing himself for 
the practice of medicine, although since his conversion, he had 
felt that it would be his duty to preach at some time. He fin- 
ished the study of medicine, and after remaining in several 
places for a short time, he finally settled in Lyndon, Vt., in 
the year 1796. He was also married about this time to Miss 
Damaris Prior. He was very successful as a physician, but 
he was continually goaded by the thought that he had neg- 
lected the intimations of Providence, and was constantly im- 
pressed with the idea that he should have to preach, but in do- 
ing this he knew that he should receive the reproach of the 
world, and seal forever the bond which would hold him to pov- 
erty and trials. After a long struggle with his own reluctance 
and his wife's opposition, he made up his mind to preach, but 
found that his views were no*t in harmony with the prevalent 
doctrines of the day. After long and serious thought, he fi- 
nally decided on the present views of the Christian Church, 
and with this understanding, he was ordained by the the Free- 
will Baptists in 1802. The officiating clergyman being Elders 
Buzzell, King, and Brown. But the year before, in 1801, he 
had organized the first Christian Church in New England, at 
Lyndon, Vt. It consisted of eight or ten memhers, but rap- 
idly increased in numbers. From this time forward, he de- 
voted himself wholly to the cause, regardless of the opposition 
of wife (who, after becoming reconciled to the change, became 
an earnest worker and helpmate), patients, neighbors, friends, 
and all. He had now given up the practice of medicine, and 
had moved his family to Lebanon, N. H., traveling far and 
near, wherever there was a call, or wherever he could get a 
hearing. In 1802, the second Christian Church was formed 
in Hanover, N. H., and soon after the third was organized in 
Piermont, the same state. In the course of his travels, he met 
Elias Smith, who had renounced the Baptists, and had gone 
into this work with all his energy. They worked together at. 
Portsmouth for some time, after which, Elder Jones went to 
Boston, where he did a mighty work, as he had taken his 
family, and was devoting nearly all of his time to preaching. 
During these years, his work was excessive, preaching thirty or 
forty sermons a month, regularly, baptizing from ten to fifteen 
persons at one time, and often traveling over two hundred miles 
during the month. 

After he left Boston, he moved to Bradford, afterward to 



182 JONES. 

Salem, Mass., and from there to Portsmouth, N. H. He was 
there when the port was blockaded and the town nearly con- 
sumed by fire. An incident which occurred here, will show, in 
some degree, his benevolence and perfect trust in the Lord. 
He says there was never a day when he or his family went 
hungry, but one Saturday his wife came to his study, and told 
him "there was really nothing to eat." He had but one dollar 
in his pocket, and the prospect seemed quite dark. While 
thinking of this, a stranger came in, asking for help and the 
Elder soon found there was one at least in a worse condition 
than himself, so he gave the stranger the last dollar. After 
the stranger had gone, he began to doubt the propriety of the 
act of taking the bread from his children's mouths, but it was 
now too late to repent. While thinking over the bitterness of 
the situation, the old trust in the Lord was revived, and just at 
this time a neighbor came and said, "Mr. Jones, a laborer is 
worthy of his hire, and as my family and I have been attend- 
ing your meeting, I now ask you to accept this trifle as part of 
the pay towards the debt I owe you." It was a five dollar note. 
In 1815, he moved his family to Hopkinton, N. H., and here 
he stayed for several years, as two of his married daughters 
lived there. Soon after comirg to this place, the spotted 
fever, or cold plague, made its appearance, and by this means, 
he obtained extensive practice, although much against his will. 
During his residence at Hopkinton, he traveled less than at 
any other period of his ministry, as his practice was very large 
and his pastoral cares were heavy. He laid by some money, 
and might have made a fortune, had he continued there, but 
other churches, less fortunate than the one here, were calling 
on him for aid, and he felt where duty called, there he must go. 
He moved to Salem in 1821, and when he started on his jour- 
ney to the West in 1829, he left the church in a prosperous con- 
dition. He had gone as far as Mayfield, N. Y., when he was 
stricken with the rheumatic billious fever, and for weeks his 
life was despaired of. He was confined to the house for three 
months, but during his suffering he showed great fortitude. 

The destitute condition of the church at Milan, IS". Y., 
touched his heart and he consented to stay some time with it 
as a pastor, although when he left Salem, he fully intended to 
return, as the church and brethren were very, dear to him. 
During his pastorate at Milan, in 1836, his faithful wife, Dama- 
ris, died. This noble woman was subject to some of the great- 
est trials as a wife and mother. Although opposed to her hus- 



JONES— JUSTICE. 183 

band entering the ministry, yet when the trials came, she .stood 
ever ready to share the burdens. She showed herself to be a 
person of strong attachment for home, children, and friends, but 
all through her life she was continually called upon to give up 
these, when there was work to be done for the Master. Before 
his Avife's death, Elder Jones had given up the pastorate at 
Milan, leaving it in a very prosperous condition, and had taken 
charge of a church at Assonet, Mass., which he found in a 
much worse condition than the one at Milan. Under his labors, 
the church speedily revived, and was now united, at least, if 
not as prosperous as it might be. But he felt he must go on, 
there was work for him at other places. His wife having 
died before this, he felt a great desire to be amoug old friends. 
In 1839, he was married again, and now hoped to live in 
comfort and quiet for the rest of his life. He took charge of 
the church at Exeter, X. H., and moved there with his fam- 
ily. When he married the last time, his life was full of great 
purposes but in less than two years, he was called on to follow 
the dear oues who had preceded him to the land of rest. He 
died May 29, 1841. Funeral services in the Christian Chapel, 
at Exeter. Sermon by Elder Elijah Shaw. 

The above is a mere outline of the vast labors of Elder 
Abner Jones, the founder of the Christian denomination in 
New England. He had not the versatility of talent of his co- 
laborer, Elias Smith, but was a man of more stability. The 
two men were well adapted to work together ; for one supplied 
what the other lacked. Each was a pioneer in his way. Each 
suffered much from opposition, persecution, and poverty, but 
each bore well his part of the work in the establishment of an 
independent body of Christians. 

Willi am A. Jones. ( 1849.) — This brother was a 

native of Virginia. His life was spent in that state, princi- 
pally in ISanseinond County. His ministry was instrumental 
in doing a great deal of good. His death, which occured dur- 
ing the summer of 1849, was caused by drowning while en- 
deavoring to cross a stream. 

Jesse Justice. (1811 — 1877.) — Brother Justice was a 
man of good character. He was born in 1811, was converted 
in 1829, was ordained in 1840, and became a member of the 
Deer Creek Conference, O. Several years before his death, 
he moved to Champaign County, 111., where he died suddenly, 
of heart disease, in 1877. 



184 KELLEY— KENDRICK. 

W. W. Keiley. (1828— 1867.)— This brother was a 
young man of promise, and had already done a great deal of 
good before he died. He preached for a time at Liberty, Ind. , 
but afterwards removed to Illinois. He was an active busi- 
ness man, and a ready and interesting writer. He was born 
in 1828, and died in Illinois, in 1867. 

THE KELTONS. George Kelton. ( 1862.) 

— This Elder was a native of Rhode Island. He died in 1862, 
at Providence. He preached quite often, but never traveled 
far from home. He was the father of George N. Kelton, now 
(1880) living in the State of New York. 

George W. Kelton was a pious, prudent, and very use- 
ful minister. His father lived in Taunton, Mass., where 
George was born. He labored as a minister for some time in 
Salem, Mass. ; but he traveled extensively through New Eng- 
land, doing a good work. In 1834, he left Salem for Plym- 
outh, where he continued for years. He also became pastor 
of the church at Eastport, Me. , from which place, he went to 
Providence, R. L, and took charge of the Sailors' Bethel 
Church, where he died several years ago. The Elder was a 
good writer, and wrote much for our various periodicals. His 
death, so early, was a great loss to the denomination. 

Jeremiah Kenarton. (1828 — 1868.) — Our present sub- 
ject was born in Caledonia County, Vt., September 3, 1828, 
and died in Jefferson, Mich., May 3, 1868. He commenced 
preaching in 1848, and was ordained in the Ohio Central Con- 
ference. He labored extensively through the Western States, 
especially in Michigan, where he died. 

Oscar Kendrick. (1820 — 1868.) — Brother Kendrick wm 
born February 23, 1826, in Preble County, O. He was con- 
verted early in life, and joined the United Brethren Church ; 
but desiring, as he deemed it, more liberty in religion, he 
joined the Christians. He felt himself called to preach, and 
early in life became a minister. He had no sympathy with 
dogmatic theology and proscribed no man for his honest con- 
victions. He regarded as a brother and loved as a christian, 
all who loved God and kept his commandments. His preach- 
ing was full of justice, mercy, and practical piety, insisting 
that to do right, is more important than to believe right, and 



KENDRICK— KERR. 185 

that moral duty is of higher obligation than ceremonial ob- 
servance. His public discourses were characterized rather by 
clearness of thought and cogency of reasoning than by nights 
of eloquence. And the earnest, loving manner he used gave 
his sermons a force and influence which no rhetoric could 
equal. His life was a constant and faithful effort to mitigate 
human misery and promote human happiness. For many 
years, he lived in the city of Indianapolis, and worked faith- 
fully as a minister in the churches near his home. During 
the war of the Rebellion, he served, for a time, as Pay Master 
in the army, performing the responsible duty with honor. He 
suffered much with bronchitis, which finally terminated in con- 
sumption. 

A few days before his death, he said to a friend : "My dear 
brother, I am looking death steadily in the face. I must soon 
rest in the grave. My faith is not orthodox. Trinitarianism 
I never believed. My belief is that the Father only is God r 
and that Jesus is his son. In this faith I have long lived ; in 
it I am ready to die. I die confident that it is the great cen- 
tral truth of Christianity. I expect eternal life, and have a 
blessed hope of soon being in heaven, where there shall be no 
more death, neither sorrow and crying." 

In this confident hope our brother continued till the 5th of 
March, 1868, when he closed his eyes without a struggle, and 
quietly passed away. 

J. B. H. Keniston was born about 1831. He labored 
for some time in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan. 
He was an easy and fluent speaker. He organized several 
churches, among which the one at Jefferson, Mich. 

THE KERRS. Daniel W. Kerr. (1800— 1850.)— This 
Elder was editor and founder of the "Christian Sun," and was 
born in Virginia in 1800. He spent the most of his active 
life in North Carolina. He was a companion of Elder O'Kelly, 
and one of the first preachers of the day. He was a man of 
great learning, and good business talent. He founded the 
"Christian Sun" in 1844, and continued as editor and publisher 
until his death. He died in May, 1850, at his residence, in 
Pittsborough, Chatham County, N. C. The Elder was a self- 
made man. In early life he studied hard, as he thought then, 
for the legal profession, but when converted he devoted his 
talent, energy, and education to the work of the ministry. For 
12^ 



186 KEKE— KING. 

a time, lie was the Principal of Junto Academy, Orange 
County, N. C. It seemed a great loss to our Christian breth- 
ren in the South, when this faithful minister, scholar, writer, 
and leader in the church died in the zenith of his life. 

Josiah Kerr. (1791 — 1869.) — Josiah was born in 1791, 
in Butler County, O., where he united with the Christian 
Church. He was ordained in 1849, and continued to take an 
active part in the ministry until his death, January 2, 1869. 
Elder Kerr's talents were not remarkable, but his mild dispo- 
sition, earnest zeal, and holy life were sufficient passports to 
the hearts of the people. During the latter part of his life, he 
was in good circumstances, as he had a large farm in Foun- 
tain County, Ind. He never received much, if anything, for 
his work as a minister ; therefore, his places of preaching were 
mostly with weak and desolate churches. But he filled an im- 
portant place in the church for man}- years. 

William Key. (1805— 1860.)— William was born in 
1805, was converted in 1825, began to preach in 1850, and 
became a member of the Western Indiana Conference. He 
afterward moved to Iowa, where he died in June, 1860. 

Reuben Kidner was a member of the Bluffton Indiana 
Conference, and died in 1870. 

W. A. Kidwell. (1806— 1876.)— William was born in 
Hampshire County, Va., December 19, 1806. He was con- 
verted early in life, but did not continue steadfast at first. 
He moved to Ohio, and settled in Athens County. He renewed 
his covenant with God, soon after began to preach, and joined 
the Eastern Ohio Conference. He was a zealous, faithful min- 
ister to the end of his days. He died of heart disease, on 
Monday, after preaching on Sunday, July 10, 1876. 

THE KINGS. Jabez King, jr. (1791— 1844.)— This 
worthy brother was born in Woodstock, Vt., in 1791. His 
parents were persons of very respectable standing in that place, 
and early implanted the seeds of virtue and morality in the 
minds of their children. He received, what was then con- 
sidered, a sufficient English education, and was apprenticed to 
the shoe-making and tanning business. When about twenty 
years of age, he was converted under the labors or Elder Fred- 



KING. 187 

crick Plummer, and soon became impressed with the idea that 
it was his duty to preach, but the sacrifice seemed too great, 
and he refused to obey the promptings of the spirit. After a 
severe illness he became reconciled to God and prepared to do 
his duty. He spent that season, and a part of the next, in his 
native state, exhorting and inviting sinners, and performing 
the duties of a lay brother with Elders Plummer, Putnam, 
Smith, and Rand, until 1813, when, in company with Elder J. 
Thompson, he left his native state and went to Charleston, N. 
Y. Here, these two young brethren encountered the preju- 
dices of sectarians and the malevolence of the enemies ot the 
cross. Yet nothing daunted, . they warned sinners, invited 
them to Christ, encouraged the saint, and God gave them suc- 
cess wherever they labored. 

In 1814, he retured to his native place, and was ordained at 
the recommendation of the brethren in Charleston. From this 
time forward, he was permanently located in New York, and 
his labors became widely extended during the three following 
years. His labors were principally iu Montgomery and Sara- 
toga counties, and being blessed with a good constitution, he 
was enabled to endure his hardships with cheerfulness. His 
associates here, in the cause, were Elders Thompson and Mar- 
tin, and under their united labors, many were raised up to 
assist in the work of the Lord, among whom were Elders Ross, 
Milliard, Capron, Mosher, Rider, Hollister, Sanlord, Spore, 
Allen, and others. It will be remembered that the period 
alluded to was not only one of continued reformation, but of 
great conflict. The new sect, as the Christians were called, 
were everywhere sjwken against, and were opposed, not only 
by the infidel, but by the bigoted sectarian as well. But the 
brethren, and foremost among them was Brother King, united 
themselves only the closer, firmly met the storm of opposition, 
and a rich harvest was the consequence. 

In 1816, he was married to Miss Ruth McOmar, a pious 
lady, and one well qualified to share with him the trials inci- 
dent to the self-denying life of a minister of Jesus Christ. He 
gradually became more local, as the care and wants of a rising 
family required, and the circle of his ministerial labors became 
necessarily more contracted ; yet he never seemed to lose the 
ardor of his youth, or the zeal of his missionary spirit, making 
frequent journeys, when he could, into new, as well as former 
scenes of labor. As a public speaker, he was energetic and 
often graphic ; his discourses were usually warm, often abound- 



188 KING— KINGSWORTH. 

ing with incidents ; without ornament, plain and pointed. But 
his worth cannot be known in the character of a public speaker. 
As a pastor, he was gentle and kind to all, always ready to 
counsel and advise, never boisterous or severe ; more ready to 
forgive than to criminate. He was charitable to a fault. He 
was patient and kind, never troubled with jealousy, and always 
rejoicing in the prosperity of others. But of all his qualities, 
none shone more brightly than his benevolence ; the poor, the 
sick, the bereaved, and the mourner always received his 
deepest sympathy. As a husband and father, he was strong 
in his attachments, familiar in his intercourse, [and instructing 
much by his own example. He died in Northampton, N. Y., 
November 14, 1844. 

Thomas King. (1809— 1850.)— This Elder was a mem- 
ber of the Eastern Ohio Conference, within the bounds of 
which he labored for some time. He died April 20, 1850, 
aged forty-one years. 

Frank Kingsley was a native of New York. He was 
converted w 7 hen sixteen years old, and commenced preaching 
about four years later — attending school for three years before 
as a preparation for the work. In company with Elder Ira 
Allen, he went to the Northern New York Conference, in- 
tending to move to Ohio at once, but the church at Leroy 
prevailed on him to remain with them for a time. He spent 
the following year at Leroy and Pamelia, and a great refor- 
mation followed, greatly reviving the brethren of the different 
churches. He remained with these churches about six years, 
when he took charge of the church at Lawrence, N. Y., where 
he remained three years, then, he resumed charge of the 
churches at Leroy and Pamelia. In 1854, he moved to Penn- 
sylvania, in which state he remained for a year, when he 
moved to Wisconsin. Soon after, he began to labor for the 
Hampden and surrounding churches of Columbia County, 
Wis. He remained here until 1864, when he moved to Iowa. 
While staying there temporarily, he died from the effects of an 
accident. He was always spoken of as a talented, zealous, and 
really useful man in the cause. 

Mary (Herr) Kingsworth. (1829— 1879.)— This was 
a female laborer who had a short but earnest career in the 
ministry of the Christian Church. She was born in West- 



KINGS WORTH— KINK ADE. 189 

moreland, Penn., June 3, 1829, married John Kingsworth in 
1852, and moved to Illinois in 1855, where she united with the 
Christian Church. In 1865, she returned to Pennsylvania, 
was licensed to preach by the Western Pennsylvania Confer- 
ence, was ordained bv the same bodv in 1872, and died Sep- 
tember 26, 1879. 

William Kinkade. (1783— 1832.)— This Elder was 
born in the backwoods of Pennsylvania, September 22, 1783. 
He moved with his parents to Kentucky in 1786. He was 
raised in the Presbyterian Church, and was converted in that 
church in 1802, when he immediately began to preach. He 
determined to hold to the Bible and right of private judgment, 
though he had no knowledge of any one holding similar views. 
These views he held unto the last. At the beginning of his 
ministry, the Elder was ignorant of even the rudiments of ed- 
ucation ; but he did not long remain so. For being possessed 
ot an active and inquiring mind, he soon became proficient in 
the acquisition of knowledge. After he had preached the gos- 
pel for some time, he commenced a regular course of study un- 
der the tuition of Dr. Stubbs, then under different teachers till 
he became well versed in the Greek and Hebrew languages. 
As an evidence of his attainment in that direction, it is said 
that all the criticisms of those languages in his "Bible Doctrine" 
were made from memory, and without the assistance of either 
a Greek or Hebrew lexicon ; and even without the aid of a 
Greek or Hebrew Bible. And all these criticisms were found, 
on critical examination, to be generally correct. 

The principal field of this Elder's labors was in the 
Western States, he having spent twenty years of his life in 
that part of the country. During that time, his labors were 
abundant and his exertions untiring ; and, in some instances, 
he endured incredible hardships. He frequently addressed 
assemblies in the open air, and generally preached two hours. 
On some occasions, his sermons were three or four hours long, 
and on one occasion, he preached for five hours. Some- 
times he would be compelled to ford rivers and travel for hours 
without change of garment, and that, too, at the cold season 
of the year, when the icicles would hang to his garments 
like fringes. Oftentimes he would be overtaken by night, in 
a dreary forest ; and then, like Jacob, he would lay himself 
on the cold ground, with the heavens for a covering and a 
stone for a pillow. He possessed a strong and robust consti- 



190 KINKADE. 

tution, but the frequent occurrence of these hardships gradu- 
ally undermined it till he at length sank under the weight of 
disease, and, at forty-five years of age, he presented the ap- 
pearance of a man of sixty. 

For several years, he resided in the State of Illinois, near 
Lawrenceville. While there, he was elected a member of the 
Convention. He was a fearless champion of freedom, and 
probably did as much as any other man in redeeming the state 
from slavery. He spoke of this political campaign as among 
the most happy and useful days of his life, and always ap- 
peared to reflect on it with a great deal of pleasure and de 
light, feeling that he had rendered to his fellow-citizens a last- 
ing and great blessing. In the fall of 1828, he visited some 
of the Eastern States for his health, and went as far east as 
Boston, Mass. ; but the disease had become so firmly seated 
that no change of climate could benefit him. But during this 
time he was able to preach, and his name will long be remem- 
bered by the brethren in that part of the country. 

While in New York, he wrote and published his. book "The 
Bible Doctrine." This book contains his views of divine truth, 
as taught hy the great founder of Christianity ; but it was 
not written as the sentiment of any people or party of Christians. 
He was as tenacious of the language as of the sentiment, be- 
ing desirous that the author should be recognized by old friends 
on reading the book. Hence the reason why some of its pe- 
culiar phraseology was retained. It is a work of highly orig- 
inal characteristics. The Elder had no books of refer- 
ence except the Bible and concordance. He consulted no au- 
thor, counseled no friend, but committed his own thoughts to 
writing, in his own' language. All his references to authors 
were from memory, or from notes that he had taken at some 
former period of life. He might have received aid irom 
others had he wished any ; but he did not choose to retail the 
sentiments and opinions of others, wishing to give to his friends 
an original book — and it was done. Very few books have 
been presented to the world so highly original in character, 
and under such peculiar circumstances. 

The Elder's talents w T ere of a high order, and he was orig- 
inal in every sense of the term. Although he took a compre- 
hensive view of any subject, yet he often came to wrong con- 
clusions, and there w T ere but few as capable of vindicating 
their sentiments as he. He was a man of great honesty, 
frankness, and decision of character ; and since he was honest 



KINKADE. 191 

in forming his convictions, he was very tenacious of them, and 
ever ready to defend them. As a public speaker, he was al- 
ways interesting, and at times very eloquent, never failing to 
command the attention of his audience. He was generally 
grave and serious in the pulpit, but sometimes indulged in 
wit, to the great amusement of his hearers. 

He returned to the Western States in 1829, as his health 
failed and his infirmities increased. His sufferings were long 
and severe, but he bore it all cheerfully. His only desire to 
recover was that he might be about the work of the Lord ; 
but when he found that his work was well nigh done, he told 
his friends that they should not object to God's will. During 
his last illness, he gave this opinion, "That little doctrinal 
preaching is requisite in our day ; but simple gospel preach- 
ing such as is calculated to lead to experimental and practical 
religion is more necessary." The doctrines that are published 
in his book he held to the last, and seemed pleased to think 
that he should leave that book as a legacy to his friends and 
the world. 

His wife having died some years before, leaviug no family, 
he had no nearer relation than a sister to minister unto him in 
his last days. But his memory will ever be dear to those who 
were with him both in a ministerial and social capacity. He 
died at the residence of his sister, near Burlington, 0., in the 
forty-ninth year of his age, after a long and very painful ill- 
ness. 

Thus died William Kinkade, at the early age of forty-nine 
years. As we may see from this short sketch, he was a man 
of great independence, which was increased in him, doubtless, 
by the perilous times in which he lived — among blood-thirsty 
Indians, daring pioneers, and ferocious wild beasts. From a 
religious mother, he early received solemn impressions, so that 
he resorted to secret prayer at the age of six. The Bible be- 
came very precious to him, in his youth. He read it at home 
and at the day school ; and after he began to preach, he 
worked five days, grubbing briars, for the first copy he ever 
owned. For many years, he was very poorly clad, and his 
exposures, in constantly traveling through the newly-settled 
country, were very great. In the midst of all, his courage 
never failed, nor did his mind ever become sluggish ; whether 
on foot or on horseback, in the deep forest or by the cabin 
fire, he was always studying his little pocket Bible. 

In the territory of Illinois, he was elected a member of the 



192 KINKADE. 

Convention to form the State Constitution — and nobly did he 
work there to make his adopted state free from slavery. 
When threatened with death by his rough pro-slavery col- 
leagues, his answer was, T would just as soon die in this cause 
as any other, and heaven is as near Illinois as any other 
place." In connection with Elder Seth Gard and others, most 
of them raised in slave states, and well acquainted with the 
blighting influence of slavery, he succeeded in his noble effort, 
and free Illinois has reason to thank him and his colleagues 
for its present great prosperity. He always considered his la- 
bors in that convention as the most useful of his whole life. 

There is an anecdote related by the early settlers of Butler 
County. O., regarding the Elder's views on baptism, and why 
he changed from a believer in infant to that of adult baptism, 
that is worth mentioning here. During one of his meetings in 
the above named county, the Elder was called upon to christen 
two or three children of a pioneer. The smallest of the chil- 
dren could be managed tolerably well as they had not strength 
sufficient to resist. But the oldest boy, disliking the preacher's 
treatment of his little brothers, got angry, climbed a sapling, 
and swore most wickedly that he would not be baptized by that 
ugly old preacher. The Elder told the father that he did not 
think it was right to force a swearing boy to be baptized. Af- 
ter a serious consideration of the subject, he concluded never 
again to baptize any but voluntary candidates. 

The Herculean work of the Elder is his "Bible Doctrine." 
As stated, the work is the product of his conviction alone, with 
no help from others — neither concordances nor commentaries. 
The work is doubtless a copy of what he had preached all over 
the west, in his pastorates, general meetings, and debates. 
We may imagine how the little pocket Bible, his con- 
stant companion, was marked through and through, so that, 
when he began to write, all arguments and illustrations were 
ready to his hand. The work was written in a great hurry. 
Much of the time, the author had to be on his knees, as the 
pain in his side would not allow him to sit down or stand up. 
Some oi the doctrines in regard to the Sonship of Christ were 
not endorsed by our leading brethren ; otherwise it was read 
and studied for years, as among the ablest productions of any 
ot our writers. There is no gloss in the style. It is the El- 
der throughout, strong, clear, logical, and so natural and for- 
cible in the argument that it drives conviction on the mind of 
the reader, whether he will or not. 



KINNEY— -KIRBY. 193 

THE KINNEYS. Chester D. Kinney. (1817—1878.) 
— The following is the substance of a letter of Elder A. J. 
Welton : Chester was born at Wayne, N. Y., June 21, 1817, 
was converted February 27, 1835, was baptized by Rev. G. A. 
Hendrick, commenced preaching at Hornby, October 12, 1840, 
w r as ordained July 9, 1843, and died at LawTence, Penn., 
August 25, 1878. His principal field of labor was in Steuben 
County, N. Y., Tioga, Bradford, and Potter counties, Penn. 
His last labor was in Lawrence. He had preached between 
800 and 900 funeral sermons. He was an excellent preacher, 
a successful pastor, and was highly esteemed for his labor of 
love in the ministry of Christ. 

R. O. Kinney. (1830— 1879.)— This brother was born in 
Sullivan County, N. Y., February 5, 1830, joined the Baptists 
in 1847, was married to Miss Sarah E. Cox in 1857, moved 
to Saline County, 111., in 1858, joined the Christian Church in 
1863, buried his wife in 1877, and died in October, 1879, leav- 
ing two orphan children. He joined and labored with the 
Christians because there was no Baptist Church convenient. 
He was a faithful, and good man. 

THE KIRBYS. Joseph Kerby. (1802— 1876.)— Elder 
Joseph Kirby was born in New Jersey, March 31, 1802, 
was brought to Warren County, O., by his parents in 1806, 
joined the Christian Church at Westville, in the same county, 
under the labors of Elder George Shidler in 1818, was bap- 
tized by Elder John Dudley in 1821, and joined the Miami 
(then Mad River Conference), in 1822, Elders L. Purviance 
and A. Snethen uniting at the same time. In 1828, he 
moved to Champaign County, O. , where he labored as a licen- 
tiate, and in 1830, he was ordained by Elders Samuel Kyle 
and Caleb Worley. He was married first to Miss Maragret 
Gustin, by whom he had ten children, three of the sons be- 
coming ministers in the same church. In 1854, he married 
again, a Mrs. Sherwood. He died at his home in Cham- 
paign County, O., October 10, 1876. The Elder was a 
man of systematic mind, was faithful and earnest in his call- 
ing, for many years, but the infirmity of age, and the care of 
a farm, kept him at home, in latter years. 

John Mark Kirby. (1823— 1869.)— This was a son of 
the preceding, was born in Champaign County, O., April 17, 



194 KIRBY— KNIGHT. 

1823, was converted under the labors of Elder Matthew Gard- 
ner, in 1841, joined the Miami Christian Conference, and soon 
after, was ordained by Elders Simonton and Baker. His 
labors were confined principally to Miami, Champaign, and 
Shelby counties. In 1843, he was married to Miss Ruth Eg- 
bert, who, with four children, survived him. In 1856, he took 
charge of a church at Careysville, where he continued until 
death. During his pastorate at Careysville, he organized sev- 
eral churches. He died at his home, January 3, 1869. Elder 
Kirby was a man of energy, had a good command of language, 
and was successful as a pastor. 

Grant Kirby. (1834 — 1863.) — This was a younger brother 
of the preceding and also of J. O. Kirby ; the father and three 
sons being acceptable ministers of Christ. Grant had been a 
licentiate member of the Miami Conference, for seven years, 
but had never devoted himself fully to the work. As he was 
teaching, he would preach whenever opportunity offered. He 
was away from home at the time of his death, which occurred 
in Warren County, in 1863, at the age of twenty-nine. 

Jeremiah Kirk. (1791 — 1872.)— Jeremiah was born in 
Virginia in 1791. He united with and began to preach in the 
Baptist Church, in 1822, and continued in that connection till 
1852, when he joined the Christian Church. He continued to 
preach until his health failed. He died at his son's residence 
in 1872, at the advanced age of eighty-two. 

THE KIRKPATRICKS. David Kirkpatrick was one 
of the converts of the Cane Ridge revival, and soon after com- 
menced to preach, having been appointed to the work by El- 
ders Stone, Purviance, and the two churches of Cane Ridge 
and Concord. He had had great success and seemed to devote 
all his time and talent to the work, but was stricken down in 
his usefulness, while comparatively young. 

John Kirkpatrick was also a native of Kentucky, but 
nothing can be known with certainty, but that he died before 
1826. 

James Knight was at one time a Freewill Baptist, but in 
1829 he joined the Christian Church. Some time afterward, 
he joined one of the New York Conferences, and labored here 
with great success. From New York he went to Michigan, 



KNIGHT— KYLE. 195 

where he remained for several years, then returned to New 
York for his health and labored among the churches to good 
advantage. He preached in Jackson and Calhoun counties, 
Michigan, for several years before 1829, in which year he 
writes to the " Palladium," giving a full account of his labor. 
He was a man of fine appearance, and of considerable talent. 
He started to California in 1849 or '50, and died on the way. 

Herman D. Knowles. (1823 — 1869.) — Herman was 
born in the State of New York in 1823, was converted, and 
joined the church while young. He moved to Jackson County, 
Iowa, and in 1864, joined the Northern Iowa Christian Con- 
ference, and was ordained in 1867. He was an earnest stu- 
dent of the Bible, and was likely to become a strong and influ- 
ential minister, but he died in 1869, leaving a wife and six 
children. 

THE KNOWLTONS. Erenezer Knowlton. (1783— 
1842.) — Ebenezer was born in 1783, brought up in the Baptist 
Church, began to preach, and for many years was pastor of 
the Baptist Church at Pittsfield, N. H. Afterward he joined 
the Christians, in which connexion he continued until his 
death. His sound faith, untiring perseverance, and strong 
sense combined to make him a very successful minister. He 
served several terms in both the Maine and New Hampshire 
Legislatures. His father, brother, and son, were all acceptable 
ministers of the gospel. He died in Montville, Me., in 1842. 

D. J. Knowlton. (1814— 1869.)— This brother was a 
son of the preceding. He was born in 1814, Avas ordained in 
1838, and soon took charge of the church at Lynn, Mass. Af- 
ter leaving Lynn, he lectured on Adventism for a time. He 
died in Boston, in 1869. He was well spoken of by those that 
knew him, and his kindness of heart was the subject of fre- 
quent remark. 

Lewis Komer was an Ohio minister, and preached on the 
Darby Plains for some time. 

Samuel Kratzer was a minister in an early day, living in 
Edgar Countv, 111., for some time previous to his death in 
1829. 

THE KYLES. Samuel Kyle. (1785— 1836.)— Samud 
was born in Monongahela County, Penn., in 1785, move i 



19.6 KYLE. 

with his parents to Woodford County, Ky., when quite young, 
was converted in 1805, and joined the Christian Church at the 
same time his parents did. Soon after his conversion, he com- 
menced preaching, although some thought that he had not suf- 
ficient talent ; and on his first application for ordination, was 
objected to for this reason. He was ordained by the Miami 
Conference in 1807 or '8, and at the time of his death, was 
one of the most accomplished ministers in the denomination. 
Before his ordination, he had married, and soon after moved 
to Ohio. At one time he served in the Legislature of the 
state. His wife possessed about 84,000 worth of slaves, which 
they brought with them from Kentucky to Ohio and liberated, 
although at the time they were quite poor. He deter- 
mined to devote his last days to the ministry, but in 1835, he 
had a stroke of paralysis, from which he recovered sufficiently 
to preach for a few months, when he received a second stroke 
in April, 1836, and never recovered. His physicians, one a 
Presbyterian and the other a Methodist, having told him that 
lie could not live, asked him if he felt reconciled. He an- 
swered, "You have not held me as a brother on account of 
doctrine, but I am now willing to inform you that I die fully 
confirmed in the faith and doctrine that I have preached for 
more than twenty-five years." He died April 8, 1836, leaving 
an affectionate wife and twelve children, several of whom had 
openly espoused that faith which the father had defended so 
nobly for many years. 

The Elder presented a very grave and interesting appear- 
ance in the pulpit, and, although he was rather slow of speech, 
his voice was pleasant and harmonious, his manner agreeable 
and impressive, and his discourses able and instructive. He 
was the means by which a great many churches were organized 
all through the state of Ohio, especially in Miami County. The 
Cove Spring Church was organized through him, and in it he 
lived and died, having served as its pastor for several years. 
Although he labored principally in Ohio, yet he traveled 
through many other states. The last trip be made was through 
Indiana, preaching a great deal, and encouraging those that 
were weak and cast down. 

Thomas B. Kyle. (1779— .) — This brother was 

born in Pennsylvania in 1779, and came with his parents to 
Woodford County, Ky., when quite young. He was con- 
verted in 1804, and soon felt it was his duty to spread the 



KYLE— LADLEY. 197 

gospel, but feeling his unworthiness, he delayed going until 
urged by his friends, when he left his work (he was a me- 
chanic), and gave his life to the work of an evangelist. He 
soon after left Kentucky and came to Ohio, traveling and 
preaching on the frontiers to the scattered and destitute inhabi- 
tants of the wilderness. In 1808, he married an amiable and 
accomplished young lady, a daughter of Judge Barbee, of 
Miami County, O. But he did not live long after to enjoy 
the society of his happy family, being cut down in the midst of 
his usefulness, when life seemed the brightest, not in his full 
prime, being not more than thirty years of age. He was pos- 
sessed of more than ordinary talents, a profound student of the 
Bible and a deep and logical theologian. His manners and 
appearance were pleasing, and he was pronounced by some as- 
one of the best orators of the day. 

Derostus F. Ladley. ( 1858.) — Elder Ladley 

was born in Chester County, Penn., April 10, He came 

to Hebron, Ohio, in 1832, about the time the church was or- 
ganized there, and served as deacon of the church for several 
years before he began to preach. During this time he wrote 
much for the "Palladium" and was an instrument by which 
much good was done in his own church. There was a srreat 
revival in 1834, by which the members were increased to 
seventy. In 1835, he began to preach and soon after traveled 
with Elder Walter, visiting the churches of Hartford and Ben- 
nington, and others of Ohio. In 1826, he traveled through 
Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania. While in New- 
York he was ordained by Elders Walter, Currier, and Badger. 
On his return, he visited different churches in Southern Ohio, 
assisting in the organization of one church, and the revival of 
several. He continued in Cincinnati for some days, in com- 
pany with Elders McClain, Morris, Carr, and Worley. In 1837, 
he took the pastoral charge of the church in Cincinnati, and 
although there was considerable division in the body on doc- 
trinal subjects, yet there was great good done. In 1838, he 
again visited New York, New England, and Pennsylvania, m 
company with Elder Long, preaching and organizing churches 
wherever opportunity offered. He returned the same year, 
but in 1839, he moved to Enon, Clark County, O., and" took 
charge of the church there, and during the same year organizes 
the Ebenezer Church. He remained there until 1842, when 
he moved to Miami County, O. During the six years he re- 



198 LADLEY. 

niained in this field he had charge of several different churches, 
staying at Sidney and Rocky Springs, perhaps, the longest. 
In 1848, he moved to Ripley and labored for that church 
until his removal to Yellow Springs, in 1852 or '53. Soon 
after his health began to fail, and this prevented his taking an 
active part in the work of the church, as he had done hereto- 
fore. His disease was consumption, and although lingering 
and painful, he bore himself with patience and cheerfulness 
until the last. He passed away October 16, 1858, leaving a 
small family. 

Elder Ladley had been twice married, but his first wife did 
not live long, and he afterward married Miss Griffith, in Lick- 
ing County, a lady in every way w T orthy, as she proved her- 
self a faithful and willing aid in his noble work. 

Elder Ladley's greatest talent was in organization and pas- 
toral work, although his discourses were able, effective, and 
full of good sense. For many years he had the name of being 
one of the best pastors in the church in Ohio. His wife was a 
great help to him in his fields of labor. Enon aud Ebenezer, 
in -Clark County, Rocky Springs, in Miami County, Sidney, in 
Shelby County, and Ripley, in Brown County, O., were the 
churches where he spent the most of his ministerial life, and 
in all of which he succeeded well as as a pastor. Besides his 
pastoral work, Elder Ladley was an active business man in our 
conferences, and in all enterprises organized for the purpose of 
carrying on our general measures. Missionary societies, pub- 
lishing associations, and especially our great effort for the 
building of Antioch College, had his sympathy and co-opera- 
tion. In all these he rendered valuable service. 

Though not a rugged man in his physical structure, yet he 
labored faithfully, and endured many privations for years. His 
writings are characterized throughout, with gocd sense, clear 
expression of thought, and fervent zeal for the prosperity of 
the cause. As a general thing, his articles to our periodicals 
were very short, sometimes not more than four or five lines, 
but they appear often, almost in every issue of the paper, with 
a mere statement of how the cause is prospering in his own 
and neighboring churches. His education at first was limited, 
but as he became active in the ministry, his knowledge in- 
creased, and his mind became more and more expanded. He 
was a man of taste, precision, and order. He had acquired a 
respectable library of well selected books, which he used to 
great advantage. Elder Ladley would have been a useful 



LADLEY— LASOK 199 

man to any church, and his loss, a little past his prime, was 
deeply felt by the church in which he had been so faithful a 
member. 

Jacob Lamb was a member of the Eastern Ohio Confer- 
ence. He died in 1849 or '50. 

Sabrina Lambson. (1799 — 18330 — This sister was a fe- 
male laborer in the church. She was born in Vermont, in 
1799. For years, she was a helpless cripple, from scrofula. 
In 1823, John Pratt, of Walpole, K H., a healer of the sick, 
was sent for to visit a neighbor of Mr. Lambson. He was 
called in to see Sabrina, as her case was very peculiar. Her 
disease had been pronounced incurable by the physicians, and 
Pratt said that he himself could do nothing by medicine ; 
but he believed in the efficacy of prayer in the restoration 
of the sick. These means were used, and soon she declared, 
with a shout, that she was cured. Physicians made an exam- 
ination, and gave the decision that the cure was genuine. The 
circumstance was published in the papers at the time as 
something very mysterious. In 1824, Sabrina began' the 
work of the ministry in earnest, working in revivals chiefly, 
and assisting others. Wherever she went, great revivals fol- 
lowed. She was tall, dark-complexioned, and thin in appear- 
ance, possesing great command of words. Her deportment, 
both in the pulpit and out, was calm and serious. She was a 
member of the Vermont Conference, but never was or- 
dained. She died in Randolph, Vt,, in 1833, in her thirty- 
fouth year. 

William Lamphrep: was a Virginia minister. In 1808 
and '9, he wrote to the "Herald of Gospel Liberty," giving an 
account of the spreading of the gospel in Virginia. He was 
one of the earliest ministers of the Christian Church in that 
state. 

Willis Lane. — It is said that a minister of this name died 
some years ago, in Tippecanoe County, Lid., about the age of 
thirty-eight years. 

John Lason. ( — 1858.) — This brother was one, 

among many others, who organized the New York Southern 
Christian Conference. He continued a respected and honored 



200 LASON— LAWRENCE. 

member of the same till death. He was the father of Rev. A. 
A. Lason. He labored mostly in Southern New York and 
Northern Pennsylvania. He was an earnest, zealous, and use- 
ful man, and died March 12, 1858. 

William Lauer. (1793 — 1870.) — Elder Lauer was born 
in Pennsylvania, in 1793, joined the Mount Zion Church at 
Philadelphia in 1814, was ordained in 1829 by Elders Proctor 
and Ferguson, and soon became an earnest, active worker 
in the vineyard. Having received the idea that it was wrong 
to accept compensation for preaching, he conscientiously re- 
fused to receive anything beyond his traveling expenses. This 
made his work double, as he labored extensively in the min- 
istry in early years, and supported himself and family by his 
manual labor. He organized several churches in Pennsylva- 
nia, and afterward became a member of the New Jersey Con- 
ference, and labored in that state. In 1838, he organized the 
church at Carversville, which had ninety members at the end 
of the next year. In 1839, he labored with Elder Porter in 
Philadelphia, and in Carversville, Penn., and at Milford, N. 
J. , with Elders Clough and Mellick with great success. Some- 
times there would be forty conversions at one meeting. He 
was at this time in his prime. In 1855, he held a great meet- 
ing in New Jersey, where many were converted, among the 
number, four of his own children. During the latter part of 
his life, he was not actively engaged in the ministry ; and as 
the infirmities of life increased he laid aside the work entirely. 
He died at Lambertville, N. J., July 18, 1870. 

Jonas Lawrence. (1808 — 1834.) — Jonas was the son of 
obscure and humble parents, who lived in the hills of South- 
eastern Ohio. He was converted early, and soon began to 
preach, traveling in company with Elder H. B. Miles. He 
soon took a high stand as an efficient minister of the gospel. 
At the age of twenty-five, in less than two years after the com- 
mencement of his ministry, he writes to the "Palladium" that 
he had traveled 5,606 miles, preached 411 times, organized 
three churches, and baptized 152 persons. 

In June, 1853, he writes from Gerry, Chautauqua County, 
N. Y., telling of a glorious awakening there, many being con- 
verted, and the church greatly revived. In March, 1836, he 
writes from Conneaut, in a \ery earnest manner, exhorting 
ministers to more faithful study ; ignorance, he says, being a 



LAWRENCE— LAWYER. 201 

pest in the church. He continued for two years at Conneaut 
as pastor of the church, it having been, during that time, 
brought from a weak to a strong and flourishing condition. 
Before this he had traveled principally as a missionary, for 
which work he had a special talent, through the greater part 
of New York, and was on his way to the Eastern States, when 
the church at Conneaut prevailed on him to remain with them 
awhile. He did so, and had just returned from a visit to his 
friends in Ohio, when he was stricken down with bilious fever, 
and died September 12, 1834, at the age of twenty-six, having 
been in the ministry but a little more than three years. 

The Elder was one of those young men, who, with untiring 
zeal and grasping intellect, make such rapid strides, as soon to 
leave all competitors behind. He was of medium size, with a 
musical voice, easy delivery, copiousness of language, logical 
arguments, and above all, with a heart burning with zeal for 
the salvation of sinners. He died, mourned by an entire de- 
nomination. The short period of three years was long enough 
for the obscure boy, from the hills of Meigs County, to leave 
a lasting impression on the church East and West ; for amonsr 
all the ministers and leading members of the church a few 
years ago, the name of Jonas Lawrence was a household word, 
everywhere. What he would have been, had he lived longer, 
is not for us to know. He was buried by the side of Elder 
Blodget, and one or two other ministers, in the old grave- 
yard at Conneaut, O. 

J. G. Lawshee. ( 1853.) — This brother was a 

young minister at the time of his death. He wrote very often 
for our periodicals, and from his writings we may suppose that 
he was a good scholar, and well read on the subject of The- 
ology. His home was in New Jersey. He was converted, 
began to preach early, and afterward became the pastor of the 
church at Bristol, R. I. In June, 1852, he wrote that he was 
compelled to give up the charge of the church. He soon after 
returned to his father's home in Hunterdon County, X. J., 
and died there in 1853. 

Johx L. Lawyer. ( 1865.) — The Elder was of 

German parentage. The Lawyer family left Durbach on the 
Rhine, in 1709, and'settled in Schoharie County, in 1713, on a 
tract of land purchased of the Indians. David Lawyer mar- 
ried Mary Sternberg, daughter of Judge David Sternberg, so 
13 



202 LAWYER. 

famous in the early history of our couutry, and their first born 
is the subject of this sketch. He had a liberal education, go- 
ing to school in Albany at the early age of nine, where he 
remained until twelve years old, preparing for a college course, 
when he found he could not, according to the by-laws, enter 
until fourteen. He spent the intervening time studying all 
the Latin authors that could be found. He graduated at Union 
College in 1814, and immediately commenced the study of law 
and was admitted to the bar in 1817. He practiced law for 
several years, proving himself an able counselor and an eloquent 
advocate, holding, during the time, very many political of- 
fices. While in this profession he was brought to see his duty 
to God, and a call to the ministry was one that he could not 
put aside. 

He began the study of Theology with George A. Linnter, 
D. D. , pastor of the Lutheran Church in Schohaire, N. Y., 
and in 1827, he was ordained a minister of God at Albany, 
N. Y., attaching himself to the Lutheran Church. His first 
charge was over Stone Arabia, N. Y., and subsequently va- 
rious other charges, the last in the Lutheran Church being the 
church at Hartwick. In 1834, a new light dawned on his 
mind. He was engaged in translating from the German, 
"Rambach's Treatise on Infant Baptism," when the words, 
"He that belie veth and is baptized shall be saved" came into 
his mind and would not be put out, and, to use his own words, 
"While progressing in my task of translating from the Ger- 
man, I was compelled from powerful convictions of mind, and 
the force of divine light, to leave the work unfinished : for it 
had no foundation in scripture. I now begin to speak the lan- 
guage of God." About this time a small volume of David 
Milliards came into his hands, which he carefully read, and 
thus his faith in the Trinity became unsettled. 

In 1848, he moved from Hartwick to Norwich, N. Y., en- 
gaged in the printing business, and became the editor of the 
"Chenango Free Democrat," the advocate of free democracy, 
free speech, free labor, and no more slave states. As an edi- 
tor, he was quite successful, and his paper never failed to 
speak out plainly for truth and liberty. His was never a 
doubtful patriotism. He was an advocate for freedom for all, 
when such advocacy cost a sacrifice. He lived to see slavery 
overthrown, and while the nation rejoiced, with old Simeon he 
exclaimed, "Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for 
mine eyes have seen thy salvation." 



LAWYER— LEE 203 

In the spring of 1855, he was appointed Chaplain of the 
State Prison at Auburn, a position he filled with great success, 
for he witnessed a great many conversions among the convicts, 
and baptized fifty of them, a thiug which had never taken 
place in that prison before. He had retained his connection 
with the Lutherans heretofore, but in 1857, he united with 
the Christians, and w T as received into the Central New York 
Conference. He now became the pastor of the churches at 
Hartwick and Freehold. His last work was accomplished at 
Med way in a lecture entitled "Bible Translation ," delivered at 
the Eastern Conference. On his return, he immediately took 
his bed and gradually declined until March 31, 1865, when he 
calmly fell asleep. 

Ebenezer Leavitt. (1770 — 1843.) — The subject of this 
sketch w T as born March 2, 1770, was ordained at Hampton 
Falls, N. H. , July, 1808, being one of the first ministers ordaiued 
in the Christian Church. He labored faithfully for many 
years, and died in North Hampton, N. H., December 14, 
1843, aged seventy-eight years. 

THE LEES. Joseph Lee. (— 1853.)— This El- 
der joined the church in 1827, and, in 1834, was ordained. 
After organizing several churches in Southern Ohio, he moved 
to Missouri, where he w r as very successful in his labors. 
Among others, he organized a large church in Wright County, 
the pastoral charge of which he held at the time of his death, 
December 22, 1853. 

Phidelo Lee. (1811 — 1849.) — Phidelo was born in Jef- 
ferson County, N. Y\, in 1811. But while he was a child, his 
parents moved to Chautauqua County, N. Y. , where he was 
converted, and was baptized by Elder Joseph Bailey. He 
soon felt that it was his duty to preach the gospel, but w T as 
prevented by his lack of education. After spending some time 
in preparation, he became a member of the Erie Conference, 
and was ordained in 1841. He became a very useful mem- 
ber of the conference, and organized several churches, mak- 
ing a very successful pastor. In 1849, after a lingering ill- 
ness, he died at the age of thirty-eight. 

Simon Lee. ( — 1870.) — Our present subject was a 

member ol the Eel River Conference, Ind. He died in 1870, 



204 LEE— LINSCOTT. 

just as he was entering on what seemed at that time a prosper- 
ous ministry. 

G. D. Levell was a member of the Bluff ton Conference, 
Ind. He was a man of good education, and was well in- 
formed, especially on scientific subjects ; but he was not a suc- 
cessful preacher. He was pious, cheerful, benovelent, and 
pleasant in all his relations, both to family and neighbors. 
He frequently lectured on literary and scientific subjects. He 
died some years ago, when not far from fifty years of age. 

Edward Lewis. (1801— 1837.)— This brother professed 
religion under the labors of Elder Walter, and was baptized 
by him in 1830. The same year, he began to preach, and 
the following year he spent in traveling with Elder Walter 
through Kentucky. August of the same j^ear, he was or- 
dained at Dublin, O. He spent the next year, also, in Ken- 
tucky, his labors resulting in great good. The following year 
he spent in Ohio. On the first day of 1833, he was married 
to Miss Julia Stevens, a pious and faithful member of the 
church. In 1836, he moved his family to Maryland, on the 
Alleghany circuit. He continued in his new field but little 
over a year, when he was called away, in the midst of his use- 
fulness, at the age of thirty-six. 

He had been instrumental for good among these last churches, 
for he found them very weak, and much divided on account 
of the doctrine of baptism and similar subjects ; but he, by 
his deep piety and consistent Christian life, had united, re- 
vived, and started many of them anew. 

John B. Libby. (1821— 1870.)— John was born in 1821, 
and was, for many years before his death, in 1870, a success- 
ful minister. His last pastoral charge was at Goshen, N. H. 
He died at Newport, the same state, at the age of fifty-one. 

Jonathan Lineback. (1823 — 1873.) — This Elder was a 
member of the Bluffton Conference, Ind., and died January 
8, 1873, aged fifty years. 

Eli Linscott. ( 1863.) — Eli was born in Trum- 
bull County, O., of poor but pious, Methodist parents. In 
1834, the family moved to Knox County, in the same state, 
and there reunited with the Methodist Church. But his father 



LINSCOTT— LITTLE. 205 

being of anti-slavery opinions his connection with the church 
was unpleasant, and in about four years after coming to this 
county, he left the Methodists. A year later, he united with 
the Christian Church, in which he continued until his death, 
in 1849. In 1842, his son Eli, our subject, w T as converted, 
and joined the Christian Church at West Liberty, in Dela- 
ware County, whither his parents had moved some time be- 
fore the death of his father. Eli's education was limited, 
before this, he having received only what could be obtained at 
the common schools of Ohio. But he now took a greater in- 
terest in books, especially the Bible, and made considerable 
progress in his studies. 

In 1847, he joined the Mount Gilead Conference, but was 
not ordained until the year following. Immediately after his 
ordination, he began to labor as a self-constituted missionary in 
Central Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. He labored in this way 
for four or five years, when he moved to Ogle County, 111., la- 
boring as he had done previously, and with good success. In 
September, 1853, soon after going to Illinois, he was married 
to a worthy member of the Washington Grove Church, Miss 
Elizabeth Tilton, one in every way capable of assisting in the 
good work. He soon joined the Northern Illinois and Wis- 
consin Conference, of which body he continued an active and 
earnest member until death. He had under pastoral charge, 
at different times, the churches at Washington Grove, Union 
Prairie, South Branch. Industry, Blackberry, and other places. 
He labored with these churches until 1863, when he accepted 
a college agency. He had made his arrangements to that ef- 
fect, when, on the twentieth of May, in company with several 
others, he went on a fishing excursion. During the day, be- 
ing an expert swimmer, he endeavored to swim from an island 
to the shore, but the cramp seized him and he sank, thus clos- 
ing what had been, and what might have continued to be, a 
very useful life. The Elder was a faithful, zealous, bold, and 
fearless defender of the faith, possessiug more than ordinary 
talent. 

Shubal Little. (1790 — 1847.) — This Elder was a native 
of Vermont. He was converted at Hartwick, in 1807. He 
moved to New York State, and joined the Northern New 
York Conference, of which he continued a member till death. 
He was a very active and industrious man, working continu- 
ally with his hands for the support of his family, even when 



206 LITTLE— LOCK. 

performing pastoral duties. He was opposed to the educa- 
tion of ministers and the salary system, and in one of his last 
letters to the "Palladium," he urges the brethren to follow the 
old plan, and not send to seminaries for ministers, as they 
were doing, and hedging them in by salaries. He died in 
Dexter, N. Y., October 3, 1847, after a long and painful ill- 
ness, but supported by Christian patience and resignation. 

THE LIVESAYS.— The two brothers, Joshua and John, 
were members of the Virginia Conference, and traveled over 
a great part of that state as missionaries. Joshua was well 
known as a writer, as he wrote several articles on the support 
of the ministry, also concerning the constitutions of confer- 
ences. These two were at times pastors of the Cypress Chapel 
Church, in Virginia. They were opposed to conference con- 
stitutions, and for some time there was an able discussion car- 
ried on in our papers between Elder Joshua Livesay and Mills 
Barrett, on the subject. The Elder was an able writer and so 
was his opponent. From some of these letters we gather that 
Joshua was born in 1786. He labored in three places in Vir- 
ginia, and in two in North Carolina. For about seven years 
after he began to preach, he devoted nearly his whole time to 
the work of preaching. From the time his health failed to 
the close of his life, he only preached on Sundays. He 
was an able man. 

We have not as full an account of John as of his brother ; 
hence they are given in the same paragraph. 

THE LOCKS. John Lock. ( 1850.)— This El- 
der was a native of New England. He moved to Ohio in 
1811, was converted in 1842^ and soon after began to preach, 
having joined the Central Ohio Conference. He was married 
in 1844, to Miss Louisa Harrington, of whom he had nine 
children. He labored very earnestly in the cause until his 
health failed him. He died in 1850, his career in the minis- 
try having been short, and his labors mostly local. 

Ward Lock labored among the Christians in Maine, in 
the early days of the Christian Church. He was originally a 
Freewill Baptist minister, and may have continued his con- 
nection with that church, as, in those days, the ministers of 
both denominations labored together without distinction of 
party. The Elder was not only an earnest, successful preacher 



LOCK— LONG. 207 

but a frequent and interesting writer, taking an active part in 
all the discussions of the day. He took a prominent part in 
the General Christian Conference held in Hampton, Conn., in 
1816. He also traveled with Elder Abner Jones, preaching 
to crowds of people. In 1818, he preached in Portland, Me., 
but we have no explicit account of his ministrations after this. 
We know that he is spoken of with respect, and that he lived 
to be quite old. 

THE LONGS. Daniel Loxg. (1789— 1873.)— January, 
1873, in a conversation with Eider Long, then a hale old 
man in his eighty-fourth year, we gathered the following : He 
was born in Alleghany County, Md., was the son of Ranso- 
mond and Maragret (commonly called Peggy) Long. The 
mother's maiden name was Devault. She was the first wife of 
his father, who married for his second wife, a widow Denver, 
and for his third wife, widow Rhetts. His father had, in all, 
fifteen children. Daniel had a twin brother, and was the 
youngest of nine children. His mother died when he was 
two years old. His second step-mother died in 1825, and his 
father in 1831. Daniel's father was a farmer and a deacon in 
the Baptist church. The boy's education was limited. He 
attended school for about one year at a school house three 
miles away. His main teacher was William Shaw, a Metho- 
dist preacher. Some of Daniel's recollections of his religious 
thought in his youth was his bitter opposition to the doctrines 
of Calvinism, as preached in his father's church, and his won- 
der that churches of different denominations did not rejoice in 
the success of each other. 

The following from the pen of Elder Josiah Knight, long a 
co-laborer of our subject is so full that I insert it here in his 
own language : "Elder Daniel Long was born in Alleghany 
County, Md., August 9, 1789, and died in L'nion County, O., 
November 26, 1873, aged eighty-four years, two months, and 
seventeen days. He emigrated to Ohio in 1808, and two 
years later he married and settled in L^nion County, where he 
resided until his death. He was converted to the Christian 
religion, joined the Christian church in July 1809, and com- 
menced preaching in 1811. He enlisted in the war of 1812, 
and was one of the victims of Hull's traitorous surrender. Im- 
mediately after returning home, he resumed his ministerial la- 
bors, was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry in 1820, 
and continued an earnest and efficient worker in the Master's 



208 LONG. 

vineyard until his death. Only the evening before his death, 
he started to go to church to preach, but was suddenly taken 
ill on the way. He attended the services, however, and re- 
turned home, feeling better, ate his supper, and retired. Dur- 
ing the night, he was taken worse, sank rapidly, and died at 
ten o'clock. Thus passed from labor to reward, another of the 
old pioneers of the Christian Church, gathered home to the 
garner of the Lord, ripe in years and labor, having been en- 
gaged in active labor in the Master's work for sixty-two years. 
Elder Long was a member of the Central Ohio Christian Con- 
ference, but his ministerial Avork was by no means confined to 
that conference, nor to the state, but he traveled and labored 
in several other states in the Union. He was noted as a fine 
sermonizer ; his sermons were clear, forcible, and marked 
with deep thought. The conference of which he was a mem- 
ber, and one of the founders, will greatly miss his zealous la- 
bors and wise counsel. He was ever mild and courteous, yet 
firm as adamant in defense of right." 

From what has been said of his education and training, it is 
easily seen that Elder Long was a self-made man. When he 
began to preach, he felt the importance of his position and at 
once prepared himself for the work, though under great dis- 
advantages, in a new country, when a terrible war was near 
his own cabin in the forest. His knowledge of books, except 
of the Bible, was always limited, but he studied nature, hu- 
manity, sin, and righteousness thoroughly. He had proper 
ambition and courage, and soon became a tower of strength to 
the small denomination in which he labored. In the Central 
Ohio and Deer Creek Conferences, plain, courageous, energetic, 
and fearless Daniel Long was, for many years, a prominent 
figure. Elder I. N. Walter, more polished in his address, al- 
ways looked upon Long, if not as a superior, yet as a full equal 
in the work. Elder Long made several visits to Pennsylvania, 
Maryland, and Virginia, for the purpose of preaching. Gen- 
erally, he and another minister would start on horseback, 
preach almost every night. During these trips he organized 
many churches, fought the enemies of the denomination, and 
generally came out conqueror. During one of these visits, also, 
he went to New York City to assist his friend Walter in a 
meeting. Some of the fashionable members of that city 
church, seeing the backwoodsman, Long, in the pulpit with 
their pastor, felt scandalized at first, with his appearance, but 
when he spoke with such ability and clearness, they wondered 



LONG— LOTHRIDGE. 209 

how such a plain man could have so much power. Little 
did thoy know the large soul that burned under the plain garb, 
nor the many battles he had fought for Christ, in the far West. 
In his intercourse, he was plain, but rigid. Had he been a 
a member of a sectarian church, he would have been a stern 
one himself. All acknowledge his goodness and purity of 
character, and for many years he exerted an influence second 
to none in the spread of the principles of his own church. 

James Long. (1790 — 1852.) — Our present subject was a 
member of the Virginia Conference at the time of his death. 
He was born in Orange County, Va., in 1790, was married 
to his first wife in 1810, began to preach in the Christian 
Church in 1820, and died December 10, 1852, aged sixty-two 
years. His labors were confined, mostly, to the Shenandoah 
Valley, and to Orange, Culpepper, Rockingham, and adjoin- 
ing counties in Virginia. 

Steven Long. (1798 — 1854.) — This minister was the 
father of Elder Albert Long. He was born in Kentucky, 
September 8, 1798, moved with his family to Marion County, 
O., when young, moved from there to Jacksonville, Darke 
County, in 1834, was converted under the labors of Elder 
Halle t Barber in 1841, and soon after, began to preach. He 
was ordained in the Bluffton Conference by Elders Robertson, 
Brandon, Fowler, and Penrod, in 1846. His labors were 
confined principally to his own church at Jacksonville, Darke 
County, O. He died December 31, 1854. 

Thomas Loomis .was a member of the Bluffton Conference, 
Ind. He died about 1856. 

Daniel Lord. (1748 — 1825.) — Daniel was born in 
Brunswick, Me., in 1748. He was at one time a Freewill 
Baptist, and he preached in that denomination six years. He 
was ordained in North Durham, Vt., in 1793. His eyesight 
had been affected from his youth, and for many years he was 
entirely blind, but he retained his memorv to the last. He 
died in Genesee County, N. Y., in 1825, after a ministry of 
twenty years. 

Loring was a member of the Huron Conference, 

O. He died about 1852. 

James Lothridge labored in Kentucky about 1825. 



210 LOUTON— LUMBARD. 

Louton was a minister in Pennsylvania in an 

early day. 

THE LOWES. Samuel Lowe died in Clinton County, 
Ind., some years ago, aged eighty^ years. 

William Lowe. (1797 — 1843.) — William was born in 
Nelson County, Ky., in 1797. His parents were quite poor, 
and his education was very much neglected ; yet he possessed 
ordinary capacity, and during his ministry, he did a great deal 
of good. He was, in every sense, a pioneer preacher. He 
moved to Carrol County, Ind., in 1829, at that time a howl- 
ing wilderness. Here he cleared a farm, and raised a family 
of seven children, preaching all this time for mere nothing. 
He was converted in 1828, soon after commenced preaching, 
and was ordained in 1835. From this time till death, although 
laboring under great disadvantages, he continued an active 
and earnest preacher of the Word. He was a small man, of 
pleasing address, very firm in his convictions, and consistent 
in his daily life. He was not a great preacher, but was a 
very successful pastor. From exposure and hard labor, he 
was afflicted with chronic sore eyes for about four years before 
his death, which occurred in March, 1843, he being forty-six 
years old. 

He had an appointment to preach with Elder Isam Adkin- 
son, some distance away, on the Sunday preceding his death ; 
when Elder Adkinson called for him, not knowing of his ill- 
ness, he was told to go and fill the appointment, and to stop 
on his return and preach at the house, but that he (Mr. Lowe) 
would not be there. It was so — Elder Adkinson did preach 
there, with the dead body of his friend and co-laborer before 
him. 

THE LOWMANS. Emery Lowman was a resident of 
Michigan, in which state he died. 

Lowman. — This brother was a member of the 

Bluffton Indiana Conference, and was an excellent man, but 
was local in his labors. He died in Delaware County, Ind. , 
in 1860, aged nearly sixty years. 

Benjamin Lumbard. (1822 — 1850.) — This brother was 
born in Mendon, N. Y., in 1822, was raised in the Christian 
Church, and embraced religion in 1839. In 1841, he moved 



LUMBABD— MADDOX. 21 1 

with his parents to Michigan, attended a select school at Jack- 
son, for a year, when he began to preach. In 1845, he re- 
turned to New York, taught school in Livonia and preached 
through the neighborhood. In 1846, he married Miss Frances 
Burr, a highly esteemed member of the Livonia Church, and 
afterward attended school at Starkey Seminary. While there, 
pursuing his own studies, he served as an assistant teacher, and 
also taught vocal music, preaching on the Sabbaths. In May, 
of 1850, his health failed him to such a degree that he was 
compelled to give up his place, much to the regret of both of- 
ficers aud students. He died October 10, 1850, resigned to 
his destiny, though greatly lamented by a young wife, and 
numerous friends. 

Childs Luther. (1779 — 1859.) — This Elder was born in 
1779, was converted in 1809, began to preach, and was or- 
dained a year later by Elders Elias Smith , Daniel Hicks, and 
J. Crossmari! He was a prominent minister in the church for 
many years and also served several terms in the Legislature of 
Massachusetts. He died in Behoboth, Mass., July 3, 1859. 

Lyburtis was a colored Christian minister of great 

ability. He labored as a pastor for some time, at Drayton, 
Canada, and died many years ago. He is said to have been a 
man of talent, both as a preacher and a physician. 

J. Mace lived in Delaware Countv, Ind., and died there 
in 1872. 

John Macklen. (1799— 1877.)— Elder Macklen was 
born in Pennsylvania in 1799, moved with his parents to 
Youngstreet, Canada, in 1802, and to the Sixth Concession of 
Whitchurch, Canada, in 1803, where he remained until 
death, June 24, 1877. In 1818, he was married to Miss Mary 
A. White, by whom he had six children, was converted in 
1826, began to preach in 1835, and labored in the ministry 
till 1875, when his health failed. 

Nelson Maddox. ( 1875.) — Elder Maddox was a 

a self-made man of ordinary education. He lived near Dan- 
ville, 111., the latter years of his life, and was an active mem- 
ber of the Illinois Central Conference. His labors were mostly 
local. Hp cYec] September 12, 1875, aged about sixty. 



212 MALLORY— MANN. 

Patrick Mallory. (1802 — 1868.) — Patrick was born in 
New York in 1802, and was of Irish parentage. He was con- 
verted while young, and although impressed with the idea that 
it was his duty to preach, he did not enter the ministry until 
his mind became so wrought upon, that he would preach in his 
sleep. Crowds would assemble to hear him, so peculiar was 
the case. His discourses at such times were clear and logical, 
more so than they would have been, perhaps, had he known of 
what was going on around him. In 1830, he removed to 
Huron County, O., and there began his career as a minister. 
He was ordained in the Central Ohio Conference, in 1836. In 
1842, he assisted in the organization of the Huron Conference, 
and continued an active member of that body until his re- 
moval to Jackson County, Iowa, in 1853, where he preached 
the gospel until a short time before his death , which occurred 
at Earlville, Delaware County, Iowa, August 22,1868. His 
education was not extensive by any means, but there were few 
more correct preachers than he at the time of his death. His 
sermons were clear, logical, and he never failed to be under- 
stood by his hearers. 

Elder Mallory had many excellent qualities, and not the 
least of these was his affectionate solicitude in the encourage- 
ment of those young men who felt "woe is me, if I preach not 
the gospel." Having suffered so much himself, from a sense of 
duty, he was ready to encourage and strengthen those who 
felt impressed with the same. 

Horace Mann. (1796 — 1859.) — The name of Horace 
Mann is inserted among the ministers of the Christian Church, 
on account of his prominent position as an educator in the con- 
nexion, and his frequent speaking in the pulpit during his 
presidency of Antioch College. 

He was born in Franklin, Mass., May 4, 1796, and his 
youth was spent m earnest study ; all his pursuits centering 
upon the improvement of his mind. At an early age he grad- 
uated from Brown College, Rhode Island, and soon entered on 
the practice of the law. The years he spent in this profession 
were very successful, and during this time, he served several 
terms in the Legislature of Massachusetts. He resigned that 
position that he might become the Secretary of the Board of 
Education, of Massachusetts, in which prominent position he 
< evoted himself with singular zeal to his duties, and with won- 
derful success in his work, la this capacity, he visited Prussia 



MANN. 213 

and other parts of the Old World, and soon after ga r /e to tfce 
people his Annual Report, a part of which was published sep- 
arately in 1843 under the title of "Report of an Educational 
Tour in Germany, Great Britain, &c." This was afterward 
republished in London, and has attained the rank of authority 
in its class of work. Among other volumes that he published 
may be mentioned "A Few Thoughts to Young Men," aud a 
companion volume under the caption of "A Few Thoughts on 
the Powers and Duties of Woman." In 1836, he resigned his 
post as Secretary of Education, and was soon after elected to 
the Senate of Massachusetts, and in 1848, was appointed to 
the place in Congress made vacant by the sudden death of 
John Q. Adams. This position he hilled with great honor to 
himself, and to the satisfaction of his constituents. During all 
this time, while he faithfully attended to his duties as a states- 
man, he never lost sight of the cause of education, aud during 
a long and active career, his interest never relaxed. 

In 1853, Mr. Mann accepted the presidency of Antioch 
College, and from this time forward, he became identified with 
the interests of the Christian Church. Probably one of his 
ideas in accepting this position was his hope of realizing there 
a larger and nobler theory of education than had before been 
put into practice, for among other innovations was the equal 
privileges given to both sexes, and this, Mr. Mann heartily en- 
dorsed. With him the ruling principle was, that every per- 
son, possessing a human soul, should be educated. He died 
at Antioch College, Yellow Springs, O., in 1859. His con- 
nection with the Christian Church was brief. It was a sur- 
prise to many that the well known Horace Mann, should ac- 
cept a position so obscure as the presidency of a new college 
under the control of a small and unpopular denomination, bat 
he accepted, and entered upon his mission with his accustomed 
energy. For awhile the prospects were very flattering, many 
hundreds of students entered the institutution, many induced 
to attend, doubtless, by the attractions that the name of Horace 
Mann gave unto it. The finances of the college were not 
sound, and Mr. Mann, with all his talent, could not make that 
a success. He labored incessantly in his college work, deliv- 
ered many lectures on the subject of education, and other 
themes ; and while not a professional preacher, he often spoke 
in public in our churches. In the midst of his Herculean ef- 
forts to sustain a failing institution, he died at the age of sixty- 
three years. 



214 % MANNING. 

John Newton Manning. (1833— 1880.)— The substance 
o^the following is from the "Christian Sun:" Elder Manning 
was born in Rockingham County, Va., in 1833, professed re- 
ligion in his youth, and after a careful study of the merits of 
more than fifty of the various denominations of the land, he 
decided to cast his lot with the Christian Church, though at 
the time he was not personally acquainted with a member of 
the body. He started from his home on foot in search of the 
denomination of his choice. He visited the Christian Church 
at Antiom, in the Valley Conference, was cordially received 
by the brethren, united with the society at the time, and con- 
tinued a member until death. At an early age he manifested 
great fondness for books. A prominent and wealthy member 
of the above church observing this, and knowing the young man 
was poor, generously offered to educate him. With profound 
gratitude he refused the offer, as his independent spirit would 
not allow him to accept, though at the same time he determ- 
ined to educate himself. At his own home, by hard study, he 
acquired considerable information, and soon began to teach, 
which enabled him to earn sufficient money* to take him 
through college. He became a student in the Virginia Uni- 
versity at Lexington, and graduated in several departments. 
From there he went to North Carolina, united with the North 
Carolina and Virginia Conference, where he was licensed and 
ordained a minister of Christ. He became the pastor of Union 
Church, Halifax County, Va., teaching also, a part of the 
time. He served other churches in the same capacity with 
success. During this time he matured and recommended the 
pastorate plan to the churches of his conference, and had it 
adopted. 

After the war of the Rebellion, when his native state, civil 
and religious, was in a condition of utter confusion and desola- 
tion, a convention of Christian brethren was called to consider 
what to do with their prostrate denomination, and Elder Man- 
ning presided over the meeting. A plan of operation was 
drawn up in the form of a "Declaration of Principles and Form 
of Government for the Christian Church." The idea, the plan, 
and the arrangement, is said to be his. After this he labored 
faithfully in Virginia, striving to build up the wasted churches. 
He was also associate editor of the "Christian Sun," during 
the most active years of his life. In all respects, Elder Manning 
was an able man — a fine writer, a successful pastor, and an elo- 
quent preacher. It is said that in his best mood he had few 



MANNING— MARSH. 215 

equals as a speaker, moving, stirring, and convincing. He 
died in the city of Norfolk, Va., February 14, 1880, in the 
prime of life. 

Jacob Making. (1803 — 1857.) — Jacob was born in 1803, 
was converted and baptized in 1840, and joined the church at 
Dundee, N. Y. Soon after, he moved to Steuben County, 
and united with the church at Riker Hollow, where he com- 
menced preaching, and was ordained by Elders Chad wick, 
Buzzell, Weseott, and Ward. Soon after his ordination, he 
became pastor of the church at Sprmgwater, where he contin- 
ued until his death. He died January 10, 1857. 

William Martin Markwell. ( 1876.) — Elder 

Markwell was a member of the Southern Wabash Conference, 
111. He was an early companion of Elder Austin Hutson, 
and they were co-laborers for years. These two young men 
entered the church and ministry about the same time. Both 
possessed more than ordinary talent. They died while young. 
Elder Markwell was pastor of the church at Mackville, 111., 
at the time of his death. He died at his home in 1876. 

THE MARSHES. Amos Marsh. (1766— 1842.)— Our 
present subject was born in 1766. He became a member of 
the regular Baptist Church, and for many years, preached for 
that body. He was pastor of the Wey bridge Baptist Church, 
in Vermont, for some time. He moved to Massena, N. Y., 
and joined the Christian Church and the Northern New York 
Christian Conference. He continued an active minister in 
that church till his health failed. In 1842, he died in Mas- 
sena, N. Y. 

Joseph Marsh. (1802 — 1863.) — This minister was a 
nephew of the last mentioned. He was born in 1802, at St. 
Albans, Vt., and commenced preaching in 1818. He was ed- 
itor of the "Palladium" five years, taking charge of it in 1838, 
and keeping it until 1843, when he embraced the Second Ad- 
vent doctrine. At that time, he moved to Rochester, N. Y., 
where he published several pamphlets containing his views on 
the new doctrine. He moved his family to Oshawa, Canada, 
and shortly before his death, reunited with the Christians, la- 
boring for them and preaching their doctrines until his death. 
He died in Tecumseh, Mich., in 1863, in his sixty -second 
year, while on his way home from Tennessee. 



216 MARSH— MARTIN. 

The Elder was an able and good man, and for many years, 
stood high in the estimation of his brethren in the church. 
Like many others, for a time, he seemed to have lost his bal- 
ance on the Advent doctrine, so sure was he that he was 
right. 

Orin Marsh was a younger brother of the preceding. He 
became a talented preacher in the Christian Church, in which 
connection he continued until his death, with the exception of 
one year, when he was a Universalist. After his return to 
the church, he was a zealous and earnest worker until, in con- 
sequence of becoming deranged, he committed suicide. 

THE MARSHALLS. Ira Marshall. ^1795— 1823.) 
— This brother was born in Stowe, Vt., in 1795, and left that 
place while a rude, uncultured boy ; but he returned in a few- 
years, not only an accomplished gentleman, but a talented 
preacher. He was converted in Henrietta, N. Y., and was 
baptized by Eider Badger in 1816. He commenced preach- 
ing, and the following year, traveled with Elder Hathaway 
through Otsego County, N. Y. In 1819, he was ordained in 
New York, and spent the next year traveling with Elder 
Hathaway through Connecticut. He married a young lady in 
Hampden, Conn., a daughter of Elder Burnham. He set- 
tled there, preaching very successfully until his health failed. 
January 23, 1823, he died of consumption. 

Job Marshall was a New York minister. He died sev- 
eral years ago. 

Robert Marshall was one of the five ministers that left 
the Presbyterians during the time of the Kentucky Reforma- 
tion, and assisted in the organization of the Christian Church 
in that state. He and Thompson returned to the Presbyter- 
ians, McNemar and Dunlevy went to the Shakers, and Stone 
partially to the Disciples — the whole five leaving the church 
they had started. 

THE MARTINS. Christopher Martin was a son of 

Richard Martin. He was a native of Vermont, and assisted 

a great deal in the spread of the gospel in that state. He was 

a man of great power as a speaker, and was as bold and ready 

as he was able. He came to New York at the time of the in- 



MARTIN— MAR V IN. 2 1 7 

troduction of the Christian cause in that state, and traveled 
extensively with Elder Millard through the eastern part, ex- 
horting sinners to repentance, and organizing churches. In 
1816, he traveled with Millard through Delaware County. 
About this time, he was married to a Miss Camp. He re- 
turned to Vermont from New York, but we have no definite 
account of his labors until 1830, at which time he had charge 
of the church at Stowe, Vt. In his early life, he was one of 
the most devoted and able pioneers of the day ; but the latter 
part of his life, to a considerable extent, was spent in secular 
pursuits — probably from want of support in the ministry. 

Richard Martin was a minister of the Freewill Baptist 
Church before the Christian Church was organized in New 
England. And after joining the Christians, he still contin- 
ued in the ministry. He was the father of Elder C. W. Mar- 
tin, and father-in-law of Elder William Blaisdell, in whose or- 
dination he assisted. 

John P. Martin. (1794 — 1849.; — John was born in 
1794, and spent his youth in Williamsport, O. He was con- 
verted in 1819, and was ordained some fifteen years later. 
He was pastor of the Graham Creek Church for some years, 
and finally died in that pastorate, May 27, 1849. He was a 
small man, of fair complexion, very energetic in his preach- 
ing, more inclined to the emotional style than to reasoning, and 
very firm in his convictions. 

THE MARVINS. Ezra Marvin. (1806— 1871.)— The 
subject of this sketch was born in Laurens, Otsego County, N. 
Y., in 1806. While he was young, his father moved to Gen- 
esee County, where Ezra remained till manhood, helping to 
clear the forests and cultivate what was at that time a wilder- 
ness. During that time, a Christian Church was organized 
by Elders Millard, Badger, True, and others, of which his pa- 
rents soon became members. Deacon Marvin and wife will 
long be remembered as true and earnest workers in that part 
of the vineyard, and it will not seem strange that, under the 
training he received, Ezra early chose the good part. He 
commenced preaching in 1827, and was ordained the same 
year, traveling a great part of the time with Elder Chase, of 
Enfield, chiefly in that part of the state. 

In 1827, he married Mrs. Huldah Ink, a widow with one 
14 



218 MARVIN. 

daughter, a daughter of Elder Ezra Chase. The result of 
this union, which lasted nearly forty years, was six daughters 
five of whom survived him. He married a second time, a 
Mrs. McAlpine, a worthy woman who was with him in his last 
hours. From the time of his first marriage, in 1827, until the 
winter before his death, he superintended a farm ; yet he was 
pastor of several churches, acted as itinerant, and traveled ex- 
tensively. Twenty years of his life was spent as agent for 
Starkey Seminary. He died at Olean, N. Y., while on his 
way home from a trip among the conferences in favor of Star- 
key, October 1, 1871. He was buried in Dundee, N. Y., by 
the side of the wife of his youth, and in the community where 
he had spent the greater part of his life. Funeral services by 
Elder Austin Craig. 

The Elder, though not a great scholar, was a friend of edu- 
cation, and was one of the greatest workers in the carrying on 
of the seminary at Starkey, N. Y. 

Seth Marvin. (1807— 1843.)— Seth, a brother of the pre- 
ceding, was born in Otsego County, N. Y., in 1807, where he 
lived until the removal of his father, Deacon Marvin, to Cov- 
ington, Genesee County, where he experienced religion in 
1824. He began to pray and exhort soon after his conversion, 
but never fully consecrated himself to the ministry until 1828. 
At this time, he gave up all for Christ, and until the day of his 
death, as much as health and strength would permit, his ener- 
gies were wholly devoted to the building up of truth and the 
advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom. He spent about 
two years in Upper Canada, after he had begun an active min- 
istry, and twice returned to that place with Elder Millard, 
great success attending both visits. He labored successfully 
in different parts of his own state and spent some two years in 
Pennsylvania, principally in Lewisburg and Plymouth, in both 
places witnessing extensive revivals. 

April 17, 1836, he was married to Miss L. E. Badger, 
daughter of Elder Joseph Badger, an intelligent and efficient 
helpmate for the work to which he had devoted his life. But 
this union continued but seven years, when it was broken by 
the death of the husband. He was a man of dignified and 
pleasing appearance, of a light complexion, slenderly built, 
bland and agreeable in his manners. He had but few enemies, 
and his piety was so constant and conspicuous that his praise 
was truly in all the churches. His preaching was of the first 



MARVIN. 2J9 

order, correct and methodical in its arrangements, clear and 
impressive in its illustrations. His gestures were easy and nat- 
ural, and his manner pleasant. To him the word of God was 
all in all, and while describing the vastness and glory of 
the great redemption through Christ, his whole soul was ab- 
sorbed in the subject, and his strains of eloquence were power- 
ful. But towards the close of his ministry, his voice was so 
much injured by bronchitis, brought on by hard labor and ex- 
posure, that he could preach but very little. In 1842, he was 
elected to the office of book agent of the Christian General 
Book Association, a position he filled satisfactorily until his 
death, at which time he had the "Palladium" under his con- 
trol. The paper was of so mii3h interest to him that, at the 
very last, he would ask of its welfare, and if it was approved. 
His death occurred September 4, 1843, amid a host of weeping 
and sympathizing friends. 

Matthew Marvin. (1777 — 1827.) — Our present subject 
was born in Pennsylvania, in 1777, moved to Ohio about 
1807, and settled in Hocking County. From there, he moved 
to Delaware, and thence to Knox County, where he died Sep- 
tember 13, 1827, aged fifty years. He was one among the 
first Christian preachers in that part of Ohio, where he 
traveled very extensively, and with good success. 

His talent for preaching was quite good, possessing an easy, 
smooth style of delivery. He had a very good voice, both for 
speaking and singing, being peculiarly gifted in the latter re- 
spect. His son, Elder J. W. Marvin, says of him : "He was 
•of a fine, portly build, and possessed great physical strength ; 
had fine blue eyes, and to me, his child, he had a mild, beau- 
tiful countenance. At any rate, he impressed upon my young 
and tender heart religion so effectually that I think I was by 
this means led to a religious life." He was buried on his own 
land, in Bloomfield, Knox County, O. Three of his children 
entered the Christian ministry, one of whom, James W., is yet 
(1880) living, and has been a prominent member of the Chris- 
tian Church for many years. 

Samuel B. Marvin. (1799 — 1837.) — Samuel, a sum of 
the preceding, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1799, and moved 
with his parents to Hocking County O., in 1807. He was con- 
verted in 1819, and soon after began to improve his gift as a 
public speaker, but was not regularly ordained for the work 



220 MARVIN— MATTHEWS. 

until 1822, after which time, he traveled very extensively as a 
missionary, and was a successful pastor of several churches. He 
was for many years a prominent member of the Ohio Central 
Conference, and was always considered an able and wise coun- 
selor. The firmness of his belief was evident to the last, as 
during his last sickness, when a skeptical neighbor came in, 
he said w 7 ith a bright smile, "Have you come to see with w T hat 
composure a Christian can die ?" He died at Bloomfield, July 
21, 1837, in the prime of life, greatly lamented by the church, 
leaving a wife and three children. 

The Elder died comparatively young. During his life, 
education w T as not general, even in the cities, much less in the 
rural districts of Ohio, where he lived. From what we can 
gather, he had a mind of great power, and no matter what he 
undertook, he would investigate to the utmost. He taught 
school, and during all this time he was studying diligently, 
reading and digesting such books as came within his reach. 
Much of the preaching of that day was of a doctrinal nature, 
and the Christian ministers were compelled to arm themselves 
for this kind of a struggle — for the liberal views held by the 
Christians were bitterly opposed. The Elder was one of these 
champions, — and a very successful one, too, possessing a calm, 
deliberate manner and the power of adapting himself to his 
hearers, — and was surpassed by none. In church polity, his 
views were in advance of many of his brethren. While he 
was earnest in his appeals to sinners, and sound in the doc- 
trines held by his church, he plead for order, education, and 
system in the entire work of the denomination. The death of 
such a man, at that early period in life, was a serious loss to 
the small and imperfectly organized body with which he was 
connected. 

THE MATTHEWS. James Matthews lived in Lau- 
derdale County, Ala., and was a leading man in his con- 
ference in 1827, '28, and '29. He w 7 rote frequently to the 
'•Christian Messenger" and "Gospel Luminary" on various 
doctrinal subjects, especially on baptism, of which he was 
quite an advocate, but not to the extent of A. Campbell and his- 
followers. In 1831, he expressed a strong conviction that he 
was near his end, as his health was then very poor, having 
been broken down by excessive labor. 

William Matthews was a traveling companion of Elder 
William Lane about 1824. He w T as then about fiftv years old. 



MATHIS— McCANN. 221 

Robert Mathis. ( 1840.) — This Elder was a 

member of the Strafford New Hampshire Conference. He 
died at his residence in Milton, IN. H., March 13, 1840. 

John Mavity. ( — 1826.) — This brother was a mem- 
ber of the Indiana Central Conference in 1826. He died the 
same year. He was a zealous and earnest preacher an! a 
faithful pastor. 

Maxwell. — A minister of this name died a few 

years ago in the West. He had labored in the states of Illi- 
nois and Ohio. He was pastor at Carlisle, O., a few years be- 
fore his death. He was a person of considerable ability as 
a preacher and pastor. 

THE McBRIDES.— Of the McBrides, there were four 
brothers. They were from Tennessee, orginally. We know 
but little of any of them but Isaac, who traveled extensively in 
in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and other states in the West, in an 
early day. 

Andrew McBride. ( 1826.) — This brother was a 

native of Tennessee, and at his death, in 1826, was a member 
of the conference in that state. 

Isaac McBride began his labors in the ministry in Tennes- 
see, but traveled extensively for five or six years in Ohio and 
Pennsylvania. About 1818, he and Elder R. Hawkins had 
great revivals near Brownsville, in the latter state. In 1822, 
his health failing him, he returned to Tennessee, and died there 
about 1824. 

He was of a dark, swarthy, complexion, medium sized, of a 
slow and deliberate delivery, with some fondness for argument. 
He was always highly spoken of, both for his zealous work and 
consistent life. Doubtless hundreds were converted under his 
preaching. 

Joseph McBride was a member of the Tennessee Confer- 
ence, but we have no account of him farther than that he died 
previous to the session of conference in 1826. 

Thomas McBrdde was a brother of three ministers men- 
tioned in the preceding sketches, and a member of the same 
conference in Tennessee, but he moved to Missouri. 

Samuel McCann was a member of the York and Cumber- 
land Conference, Me., and died in 1872. 



222 McCASLIN— McCLAIN. 

William McCaslin. (1793— 1852.)— This brother was of 
Scotch descent, was born in Bedford County, Penn., December 
19, 1793, was converted under the labors of Elder Kilwell, in 
Pennsylvania, and joined the Christian Church in 1817. He 
commenced preaching, and was ordained by Elder B. Miles 
and others in 1828. He was a strong and faithful supporter 
of the Christian Church in its early days. He was also one 
who stood firm at the time when many left the denomination 
and joined the Disciples, as the followers of Alexander Camp- 
bell were called at that time. He and Elder John McDon- 
ald, and a few others, were unshaken in their adherence to the 
doctrines of the church, and their firmness, doubtless, saved 
the Ohio Eastern Conference from being broken up at that 
time. The Elder, like many of his co-workers, would receive 
no pay for preaching. He organized the churches at Bear 
Run, Island Run, Oakfield, Blackfork, and others. His labors 
were mostly in Perry and adjoining counties in Ohio. He had 
good native talent, and had great success as a preacher. He 
died in Perry County, October 11, 1852. 

THE McCLAINS. Alexander McClain. (1797— 

1856.) — This brother was born in Pennsylvania, October 14, 
1797. His parents were of Irish and Scotch descent, and 
were members of the Presbyterian Church. In 1808, he 
moved with his parents to Nicholas County, Ky., where, in 
1816, he was converted among the Christians and soon began 
to exhort. When he joined the Christians, his parents were 
much opposed to him, and promised to educate him for the 
ministry, if he would join the Presbyterians. This he refused 
to do, and was ordained for the work in 1823, by Elders Rog- 
ers, Longley, and others. He labored, after this in Kentucky 
for several years with occasional trips to Ohio and Indiana, 
but, 1829, after six years of faithful and successful work in 
Kentucky, he moved to Russell ville, O., Avhere he remained 
until 1850, when he moved to Carlisle, Clark County O., stay- 
ing for two years, and then moving to Dayton, w T here he died, 
in the triumph of a living faith, August 30, 1856, in the six- 
tieth year of his age. 

The Elder was a well-made man, of medium size, and great 
activity, with keen black eyes. His zeal for the cause knew 
no bounds, and as he was a very popular preacher, he re- 
ceived calls from many churches to hold protracted meetings, 
and seldom refused to go, although the remuneration for min- 



McCLAIN- McCLURE. 223 

isterial labor in those days was small. He had accumulated 
some property, but in a mercantile transaction he lost all. 
This was a hard trial, but he determined that he would pay 
the last dollar, which he did, some little time before his death. 
His great power for good among the people lay not in his 
preaching, simply, but in his daily actions, and his power of 
simplifying gospel truths. His prayers in families were 
often as effectual for good, as his sermons, as he presented the 
condition of each member of the family — father, mother, sons, 
daughters, hired persons, strangers — to the loving Father. 
Xot one was forgotten. Each one felt there was something to 
do, to be worthy of the blessing. He wrote frequently for our 
periodicals, but the articles were usually short, treating upon 
the one theme of his life, the salvation of sinners. While we 
have had better logicians and more comprehensive minds, few 
if any, were more efficient workers in the salvation of sinners, 
than he. In 1817, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Cald- 
well, of Nicholas County, Ky., who proved herself to be an 
efficient and faithful helper in the years of trials and hardships 
that came with a growing family. They had seven children. 
Several of these and his companion survived him. 

The Elder's field of labor, during his prime, was in Southern 
Ohio. He preached to the churches of Russellville, Sycamore,. 
Carlisle, Knob Prairie, and many others, as a pastor. For 
many years, indeed, he was one of the leading men in his field 
of labor. He and Elder Gardner were neighbors. Tw t o such 
men in the community would be a power in any denomination. 
It is difficult to tell which was the most talented, although they 
were as different in their talent as two able men could be. 
Gardner was the more intellectual, while McClain was the 
more sociable and pathetic. 

R. H. McClain. ( 1863.)— This minister joined 

the Deer Creek Conference, March 13, 1860, at a called ses- 
sion. He died at Louisville, Ky., in 1863, while in the army. 
He was a single man about twenty-seven years of age. He 
came to Ohio from one of the provinces of British America. 
He is spoken of by those that knew him as a young man of 
fine spirit and great promise for the future. Though a com- 
parative stranger, his death was a great sorrow to many. 

THE McCLURES. John McClure labored a part of 
his life in Canada. He died some years ago. 



224 McCLURE— McCREARY. 

William McClure died in the State of Indiana when 
about forty years of age. 

Samuel McCormick was a member of the Northern Ken- 
tucky Conference in 1826. He died many years ago. 

John McCreary. (1771 — 1857.) — This brother was born 
in Iredell County, N. C, August 7, 1771. His educational 
facilities, being the time of the Revolution, were limited ; but 
through the energy of his father, he received what would now 
be a common school education. Being of a studious mind, he 
was not content with this, but endeavored to increase his 
knowledge to the end of his public career. He was brought 
up under the influence of the old school Presbyterians, joined 
that church, and had taken the first steps in the ministry when 
he began to doubt and therefore investigate some of the ar- 
ticles of faith in that church. He continued that investiga- 
tion until after his marriage to Ruth Warren, and till he had 
two children. These were christened according to the 
practices of the Presbyterian Church, although with some re 
luctance on the part of the parents. When he declared his 
views on this subject, there was a great deal of remonstrance 
made, but with no avail. Soon after, he moved to Tennessee, 
joined the Christians, and became a co-laborer with Kinkade, 
Dooly, Stone, and others who wished a free church and had 
separated themselves from other churches at the time of the 
Cane Ridge revival. 

About 1812, he removed to the Indiana Territory, locating 
about eighteen miles from the site of the present city of Evans- 
ville. Notwithstanding the many privations incident to set- 
tling in a new country and the unfriendly relations of the In- 
dians during the war of 1812, he was not unmindful of the 
cause of Christianity. He and Elders Wasson, Palmer, Mil- 
ler, and others gathered together all who were willing to take 
the Bible as their rule, and organized churches in their respec- 
tive localities, holding meetings in private houses till they 
could get suitable buildings for the purpose. He remained 
here nearly thirty years, and preached in nearly every county 
in the south-western part of the state. He was in the prime 
of life when Indiana was admitted into the Union, in 1816, 
and took an active part in making it a free state. Soon after, 
he was elected Associate Judge. At one time, he represented 
Vanderburg County in the legislature. 



McCREARY— McDONALD. 225 

But duriog a greater part of this time, he was preaching 
regularly in the different counties near him — Gibson, Poesy, 
Warrick, and others further north. In 1835, in company 
with his three sons and an only daughter, he left this place 
and located in McDonough County, 111., where he remained 
two years, when he moved to the territory of Iowa. Although 
far advanced in years, he labored there until he had organized 
a church on the DesMoines River, in VanBuren County. He 
kept his appointments until near his death. He died Septem- 
ber 19, 1857, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. He 
was very successful as a minister, was a good reasoner, and 
was so familiar with the old and new testaments that he was 
never at a loss for a proof text. As an exhorter, he was 
warm and sympathetic, and did not fail to get the attention of 
his hearers. 

Josiah McCullough. (1815— 1859.)— This Elder was 
born about 1815, in Alamance County, N. C , and died in 
1859. He was an educated man, very devoted in the cause, 
and a fine orator. He acted for a time as agent for the Gra- 
ham Institute, N. G, and exerted a good influence in the 
church. 

James McDaniel. (1793 — 1873.) — James was born in 
Bedford County, Penn., October 11, 1793, united with the 
Christian Church in 1815, moved to Ohio about 1843, and 
soon after, united with the Eastern Ohio Conference, of which 
he remained a member till death. He died in Vinton County, 
O., March 23, 1873. 

THE McDONALDS. David McDonald, one of the 

leading jurists of Indiana at the time of his death, was, in 
earlier years, a faithful and zealous Christian minister. At 
the time of his conversion, he determined to preach the Word, 
and with this determination, he commenced traveling, preach- 
ing as he went. He labored through all Southern Indiana, 
and was quite successful in winning souls to Christ. During a 
part of this time, he was in company with Elder Daniel Rob- 
erts, one of our leading ministers, who, at that time, did not 
believe in receiving pay for ministerial work — and it is likely 
that David partook of the same idea. At least, he received 
little of the small contributions that the older ones did when 
the brethren came to the ' 'shaking hands" part of the ser- 



226 Mcdonald— Mcdowell. 

vice ; and he soon found that he could not live in that way. 
At the last conference he attended, he made a statement of 
facts, asking members to continue his name on the conference 
record. He taught school for a while, little by little studied 
law, Avas admitted to the bar, moved to Indianapolis, became a 
leading lawyer, and published a digest of the laws of Indiana. 
He married, acquired considerable property, and soon became 
a Judge of the United States Court in Indiana, in which posi- 
tion he continued till death. With all this honor, he ex- 
pressed to the compiler of this volume, a short time before his 
death, much regret that he ever left the ministry of the Chris- 
tian Church. He thought that it w T ould have been much bet- 
ter had he battled with poverty in w T hat he considered duty 
than to gain the great honor he did by his profession as a law- 
yer. He was always a pious man, and did much good in the 
church. He joined the Methodist Church, but in his latter 
years, he was a great support to the small Christian Church in 
Indianapolis. 

John McDonald. (1789— 1864.)— John was born Feb- 
ruary 12, 1789, in Maryland, moved to Gainsville, O., when 
a boy, was married to Sally Dew, March 26, 1812, moved to 
Monroe, Perry County, in 1814, served in the war, was con- 
verted under the labors of Elder B. Miles in 1819, and joined 
the Christian Church — he had joined the Methodists before. 
He soon began to preach, and for several years, was a leading 
member of the Eastern Ohio Conference. He was very suc- 
cessful in the accumulation of property, but was noted for his 
benevolence, having erected a comfortable house of worship 
on Sunday Creek, near his own house. This church was or- 
ganized about 1820, and was donated to the Christian Church. 
The Elder nearly supported those ministers who came there to 
preach. He was injured by cattle in the road, and died Sep- 
tember 22, 1864. He received no salary for preaching, 
though he paid others. He moved all his effects to Perry 
County, O., on a horse, blazing trees to guide his way back ; 
and for some time, he went to Zanesville, thirty miles, to mill 
and market. 

William McDowell. ( 1850.) — This brother was 

quite an old man in 1834, but we have no further account of 
him except that he died in 1850. Elder Cams says he was a 
minister in the Eastern Ohio Conference. 



McGAHE. 227 

David McGahe. (1771 — 1851.) — This minister was born 
in Pennsylvania, in 1771. He moved from Pennsylvania to 
Guilford County, N. C, thence to Georgia, and in 1801, he 
professed religion in the Presbyterian Church. The next 
year, he moved to Wilson County, Tenn. Although brought 
up in the Presbyterian Church, he was very liberal in his 
views. The doctrines that arose from the Cane Ridge revival 
were fast spreading through the country, and the Elder read- 
ily received them ; and, after some mental struggle, deter- 
mined to advocate them publicly. There were some misgiv- 
ings, however, that he was not acting in strict accordance with 
Presbyterian rules. But, under the impression that the Pres- 
byterian Church was about to renounce creeds, he attended 
the Presbytery at Red River, Logan County, Ky., and there 
found himself more closely bound by creeds than ever. And 
then and there, he determined to declare himself independent 
of the Presbyterians. There had been a church built by the 
efforts of the revivalists, and when the division came, the ma- 
jority retained the church property. Thus the Elder and 
others, by their earnestness and zealous work, started the first 
Christian Church in Kentucky. 

Although they had a church and congregation, there were 
really no ordained ministers. To remedy this, Elder Pope, 
one of O'Kelley's co-laborers, was sent for, and McGahe was 
ordained for the work May, 1807. He now started out to 
travel, laboring under the disadvantages of delicate health and 
stinging poverty ; but his labors w r ere wonderfully blessed, and 
the church was strengthened, help comiug from Ohio, Ken- 
tucky, and other states. In 1815, he moved to Crawford 
County, 111. , where he labored faithfully as a pious preacher, 
resisting every thing that had a tendency to shackle the mind 
or divert it from its proper course. Not only did he preach a 
free salvation, but he wrote much, never hesitating to do what 
duty demanded. He w r as twice elected to the legislature, and 
served several years as receiver at the Land Office in 
Palestine, 111. During all this time, his interest in the good 
work never abated, but he kept up an active ministry. Wil- 
liam Kinkade, Seth Gard, and himself, of the Christian, and 
Daniel Parker, of the Baptist Church, were four of the most 
active men in keeping slavery out of the constitution of Illin- 
ois. Old age came on, however, and for several years, he did 
not attend the sessions of his conference. But he was at the 
last one before his death, and was called upon to preach, which 



228 McGAHE— McINTIRE. 

he did in an able maimer — from Titus 2:7. He died Septem- 
ber 29, 1851, at the age of eighty years. His aged compan- 
ion preceded him a few years. 

William McGaughy. (1804— 1830.)— This brother was 
born October 10, 1804, was converted in 1820, and began to 
preach in the following year. His labors were mostly con- 
fined to his native state, Georgia. He was a very earnest 
man and zealous in the cause, but he died July 19, 1830. 
at the early age of twenty-six, after being nine years in the 
ministry. 

James McGregor. (1786 — 1852.) — This Elder was born 
in 1786, embraced religion in Cayuga County, N. Y., under 
the labors of Elder Shaw, and began his work in the ministry 
before leaving New York. In 1837, he moved to Michigan, 
where he organized several churches, one very fine one in his 
own neighborhood, of which he was the chief support while he 
lived. He was peculiarly gifted as a pastor, and was very 
zealous in the support of the cause. He died March 17, 1852. 

Thomas McIntire. (1789— 1861.)— This brother was 
born in New York in 1789, was converted in 1821, and com- 
menced preaching soon after. In 1825, he moved with his 
family to Canada, and was ordained at Mendon, N. Y., the 
year after his removal, by Elder Shaw and others. In 1838, 
he wrote that he had labored in Canada, for eight years. His 
co-workers, during a part of this time, were Elders Seth Mar- 
vin, A. C. Morrison, and others, and great success attended 
their work. In 1841, he left Canada, after having lost all his 
property in the rebellion, going to Marion, N. Y., where he 
remained two years, organizing several churches during the 
time. About 1857, he moved to Michigan, and died at Inde- 
pendence, May 1, 1861, aged seventy- two years. 

He devoted his whole life to the work, often times neglecting 
his own interests that he might advance the cause. His prin- 
cipal labors were performed in New York and Canada, and 
very often under very great disadvantages of poverty and op- 
position. He was a talented, zealous, and self-sacrificing man, 
but like Elders? Daniel Call, Joel Doubleday, and other revival- 
ists, he was often destitute of earthly comforst. In Canada and 
New York, his name was familiar in all the families of the 
Christian denomination, and many hundreds, if not thousands, 
were converted under his preaching. 



McINTURF— McKEE. 229 

John McIxturf. (1815— 1847.)— This Elder was born 
in Licking County, O., in 1815, was converted in 1832, was 
ordained the year following, and from this time forward 
he devoted his time, talents, and all to the work of the minis- 
try. He traveled extensively through Ohio and some other 
states. His talent was best exercised in revival work, and be- 
ing a very eloquent and earnest preacher, revivals followed his 
labors every- where. His trust in the Lord was complete, and 
his zeal for the salvation of sinners knew no bounds, therefore 
it is not wonderful that he often taxed his physical powers be- 
yond endurance. Still his health was quite good. He was a 
fine-looking man, very pleasant and agreeable in his manners. 
He was married in the Christian Church in Hartford, Licking 
County, O., by Elder J. W. Marvin, where nine years after- 
ward the same minister preached the funeral of both husband 
and wife. He died January 29, 1847, and his wife just two 
weeks before, leaving two small children. 

Jason McKee. (1800 — 1876.) — Our present subject, was 
born in Manchester, Conn., November 17, 1800, moved with 
his parents to Adams, Jefferson County, X. Y., in 1803, was 
converted in 1818, and was baptized by Elder Lebbeus Field of 
the Christian Church. He became well versed in the com- 
mon branches of education, taught school, and preached as a 
licentiate until 1831, when he was ordained in the Northern 
New York Conference. His labors were continued within the 
bounds of his own conference through life, with the exception 
of three years that he preached in Ohio and Western Pennsyl- 
vania. He was a frequent writer to our periodicals, reporting 
the doings of the churches in the field of his labor. He was a 
plain, pointed writer, clear in all his statements, and his 
suggestions were timely and wise. He was a progressive man, 
a lover of education, system, and enterprise in the churches. 
He died of paralysis in Water town, N. Y., at the house oi' 
his daughter, August 2, 1876, his faithful companion having 
died six years before. 

The Elder was a tall, spare man, having a quiet and grave 
countenance ; in his old age he had quite a venerable look. 
He devoted more of his week days to the work of the ministry 
than was common with the ministers of his conference, and as 
the pay for ministerial work was small, he was in limited cir- 
cumstances. After the death of his wife, he lived among his 
children, visiting and preaching what he could to the churches 



230 McKEE— McKINNEY. 

of his neighborhood. When he had the first stroke of par- 
alysis he was staying at the house of a son in Brooklyn, N. Y. 
He recovered sufficient strength so as to be brought to his 
home in Watertown, where he passed away, as stated, in peace 
and triumph. 

THE McKINNEYS. James McKinney. (1789—1872.) 
— James was born in Washington County, Penn. , July 17, 1789. 
He was of Scotch and French ancestry: In 1791,* his father 
moved his family to Cincinnati, afterward settling in Campbell 
County, Ky. They remained there for some time, then moved 
to Clark County, O., where James received such education as 
was commonly given in those days. In 1818, he was married 
to Mary Flynn, and in the same year he was converted. 

In 1812, he enlisted for the war against England, and re- 
mained a year. During this time, however, by exposure, he 
contracted the sciatic rheumatism and was severely afflicted by 
that disease for two years. When he had partially recovered, 
he taught school, and farmed on a small scale. He now be- 
gan to preach and took a strong stand on the Bible as a creed, 
and the belief in the union of all believers. In 1829, he 
moved to Montgomery County, Ind., where he soon took a 
prominent place as a minister in the Christian Church, and re- 
tained this until his death. He continued for over forty years 
a prominent member of the Western Indiana Conference, and 
during the last years of his connection with the conference, he 
was considered the father of it, as the early members were all 
gone except himself. He was always expected to open the 
conference, as no one was willing to .take the place of the 
worthy patriarch. He wrote a great deal for the different pa- 
pers of the church, informing the denomination at large of the 
events transpiring in his part of the country. In 1843, he 
wrote to the "Palladium" at two different times ; in one, he 
mentions a revival in one of the churches of his charge, and of 
the addition of seventy members, and in the other letter, he 
tells of the death of his son Watson, in his twentieth year, a 
heavy stroke to the parents, but borne in the triumph of faith. 
The Eider was a bold defender of the doctrines held by the 
church of his choice ; the circumstance of his position, together 
with his peculiar promptness and ability making him, for many 
years, a leader in his field of labor. Many were t>e difficulties 
encountered by our pioneers, in an early day, in Western In- 
diana, and Elder McKinney had his full share of these, but he 



McKEsTNEY— McKOWN. 23 1 

met them all manfully, and came out victorious. Some of his 
companions in labor were Elders Dudley, Jackson, Lowe, 
Snether — all men of sterling worth as pioneers. He preached 
but little for the last three years of his life, but his interest 
in the church never lessened, and all looked upon him as a 
safe and able counselor. He died November 3, 1872, in 
Merom, Ind., in his eighty-fourth year. The Elder raised a 
large family of children. Elder A. L. McKinney has boen 
for many years a leading minister in the same church. His 
yonngest son, Moses B. , was a promising young minister, but 
he passed away several years ago. Watson, who died in 1843, 
had the ministry in view. Three of his daughters married 
ministers, one daughter married a Methodist minister ; the 
other two married respectively, Elders Leonard Shoemaker, 
and David Hayes. Thus, from one family there was, at one 
time, seven ministers serving the Master. His companion, who 
died many years before him, was a faithful helpmate to him in 
his ministerial work. 

Moses McKinney. (1828— 1866.)— Moses, a son of the 
preceding, was born in Clark County, O., April 6, 1828, was 
converted while quite young, and joined the Western Indiana 
Conference in 1848. He attended school at Antioch College 
for some time. His ministerial labors were confined princi- 
pally to Montgomery and Sullivan counties, Ind., although he 
had preached some in Ohio. He was drowned in the Wabash 
river near Merom, while fishing, June 1, 1866, in the prime of 
life, after laboring twelve years in the ministry. *He left a wife 
and two children. 

Allen McKinsey was raised at Alamo, Montgomery 
County Ind., embraced religion, began to preach early, and 
joined the Western Indiana Conference. He moved to Merom 
to educate his children, and labored in that vicinity for some 
years. Later in life he moved to Pulaski County, Ind., joined 
the Tippecanoe Conference, and died in Star City, Ind., about 
1875. 

David McKown. (1820— 1846.)— David was born in 
Jackson County, Va., in 1820, moved with his father's family 
to Knox County, O., about 1823, where he remained until 
manhood. He was converted in 1840, under the labors of 
Elder John Mclnturf, and the next vear, became a member 



232 McKOWN— McNEES. 

of the Ohio Central Christian Conference, but was not ordained 
until two years after. From this time forward, he traveled 
extensively in different parts of Ohio, Indiana, Maryland, and 
Virginia. Iu 1846, he entered Meadville Theological School, 
for the purpose of fitting himself more fully for the work in 
which he had been engaged for six years. He labored here 
very hard as a student, and there were few. that made a more 
rapid advancement than he. But his constitution was not 
strong enough for the strain put upon it, and he was obliged 
to leave school. He went to Spring, Penn., where he died 
May 22, 1846, at the house of one of the brethren, in his 
twenty-seventh year. 

Daniel McLaughlin. (1807 — 1867.)— This brother was 
born in 1807, moved to Iowa about 1865, and died in Cedar 
County, in 1867. He was a successful preacher and a good 
man. 

John McLean had been in the Christian ministry for 
about five years at the time of his death, which occurred in 
Upper Canada in October, 1836. 

William McLucas was an Indiana preacher, and died at 
the age of forty. 

William McMasters. (1785—1855.) — This brother was 
born in Pennsjdvania, about 1785, and moved to Ohio, near 
Cincinnati, with his parents in 1803. In 1807, he united with 
the church, and in two years he began to exhort. Such was his 
success that many were astonished, and a certain Judge re- 
marked that "the illiterate man speaks like a learned minis- 
ter." After his ordination in 1813, he took charge of the 
church at South Bend, Hamilton County, O., and during this 
pastorate he organized a church across the river in Kentucky, 
many of the members being from the fishermen along the 
banks of the river. He served as a pastor of the church at 
South Bend for five years, after which he removed to Ken- 
tucky, where he remained until his death in 1855. 

Andrew McNees. (1816— 1872.)— This brother was a 
native of Tennessee, being born in Washington County, Jan- 
uary 21, 1816, moved to Randolph County, Ind., in 1829 o 
'SO, married Miss Jane Mclntire in 1835, and joined the Meth 



McNEES— MERRIHEW. 233 

odist Church in 1836. In 1839, he joined the White Kiver 
Christian Church, at the time of its organization under the la- 
bors of Elder Brumfield, the first church of our denomination 
in the county. Soon after, he joined the Bluffton Conference, 
and was ordained by that body. His principal field was Ran- 
dolph and adjoining counties in Indiana and Ohio, though he 
labored for some time in Illinois. He was quite successful as 
a minister, especially in general meetings, organization of 
churches, and revivals. He baptized a great many. He 
spent twenty-nine years in preaching the gospel, and died Sep- 
tember 9, 1872. 

r Richard McNemae. (1769 ) — McNemar's name 

is inserted in this book from the fact that he was one of the 
founders of the Christian Church in Kentucky, although he did 
not labor long in the body. He was born in 1769, and com- 
menced his religious life in 1790. He was educated for a 
Presbyterian minister, and labored successfully as such until 
the Cane Ridge revival in Kentucky, when he cast away 
creeds and confessions of faith, and with others, took the Bible 
alone as the foundation of faith. With the people of this faith 
he labored for several years, until the Shaker element arose, 
when he and John Dunlevy embraced this doctrine, and be- 
came zealous workers in that body. The Elder possessed great 
talent both as a speaker and writer, and was very successful as 
a minister in the Presbyterian Church. As a leader, he be- 
came quite prominent among the Shakers, and died in one 
of their villages many years ago. 

Daniel McPherson. (1759. — 1839.) — Daniel was born 
in Scotland, in 1759, was converted, and preached for some 
years in the Methodist Church, but on the entrance of the 
Christian ministers to Delaware County, N. Y. , he was among 
the first to receive them to his house. He soon partook of their 
sentiments, and for this reason, his connections with the Meth- 
odists were severed in 1818, when he identified himself with 
the Christians, and for twenty years, continued a faithful and 
zealous worker in that church. The latter part of his life was 
consecrated to one object — the conversion of sinners — and he 
was greatly blessed in his purpose. He died September 8, 
1839, aged eighty years. 

Stephen Meeeihew. (1827— 1863.)— This brother was 
a native of New York. He was a member of both the Baptist 
15 



234 MERMHEW— MERRILL. 

and Methodist churches before he joined the Christians, having 
joined the former in 1847, and the latter id 1849. Some time 
after joining the latter body, he began to preach, and was or- 
dained by Elders Welton and Tyler. At first, he lived at Hal- 
sey Valley, Tioga County, N. Y., but soon after moved to 
Boone County. He was a pious, devotional man, and an earn- 
est believer in the faith in which he died. He enlisted in the 
War of the Rebellion, but was sick nearly all -the time 
while in the service, and died May 23, 1863, aged thirty-six 
years. 

THE MERRILLS. Charles Vaughn Merrill. (1800— 
1846.) — Charles was born November 21, 1800, was converted 
under the labors of Jasper Louis, and joined the Christian 
Church at Worthington, Me., in 1829. He afterward moved - 
to Dover, Me. , organizing several churches in that part of the 
state, and one at Exeter. In 1837, he moved to Fulton 
County, O., and joined the South-eastern Michigan Confer- 
ence. From this time until his death, his labors were con- 
fined to Northern Ohio and Southern Michigan. During this 
time, he was active in the work, and especially was he called 
for on funeral occasions. He was a very devoted man and 
was blessed with a perfect trust in God. Some times he would 
get out of his bed to baptize at midnight. Having dreamt one 
night that his eldest son had died, he was so affected that he 
' prayed with and for his children, whereupon four of them were 
converted. He died at his home in Fulton County, January 
4, 1846. One of his sons died a prominent minister of the 
United Brethren Church. 

Joseph Merrill. (1779 — 1860.) — This brother was born 
in 1779, and was ordained in 1827. He was a member of the 
Maine Christian Conference, and spent the greater part of his 
life in that state. He was a very successful minister in revi- 
vals, and enjoyed that kind of labor, greatly. He died in 
Canaan, Me., in November, 1860. 

The Elder was not a great preacher, but he was so good and 
kind that all had confidence in him. To illustrate his kindness 
and wit : An anecdote is related of him in the case of receiv- 
ing into church a young girl about fourteen years old, who 
had been brought up by religious parents, and as such, had but 
little experience in sin. As was customary in Maine in those 
days, the little maid was called upon to give her experience. 



MERRILL— MILES. 235 

She gave a good one, but did not say much about her feeling 
of guilt. An old brother, a member of the Calvinistie Bap- 
tist Church, who had been back and forth from sin to holiness, 
frequently, but more in the former state, expressed himself as 
not satisfied with the experience given, as it did not show the 
sense of sin prominently enough. The Elder promptly an- 
swered, "Good reason, good reason, Brother F., for she never 
had the experience that you have had in sin and crime." 

Abeam Merritt. (1779 — 1847.) — This brothor was a 
member of the Cincinnati church and the Miami Conference. 
He died January 18, 1847. 

BaezillaiH. Miles. (1797— 1833.)— This Elder was born 
in Otsego Comity, X. Y., in 1797. He was converted when 
quite young, began to preach in 1818, moved to Ohio, and la- 
bored in the neighborhood of Rutland, Meigs County, O., for 
many years, with great success. In May, 1831, he started on a 
preaching tour through Indiana, traveling through the country 
as far as the Tippecanoe Battle ground. His letters, describ- 
ing the events of the journey, are very interesting. In the 
same year, he started on an eastern tour through Ohio, Penn- 
sylvania, and to the city of Xew York. From the city to his na- 
tive place in Otsego County, back again to Xew York City, 
going from there to Xew Jersey, thence to Monroe County, N. 
Y., and from there to Onondaga County, where he remained 
until 1832. He was a welcome visitor, not only in the families 
of the different churches where he preached, but was gladly 
received in other families, being very agreeable in his manners 
and liberal in his views, while he lived a consistent life, and 
one full of good works. In his journal, he speaks of his trip in 
the East, saying "that in the counties of Jefferson, Tompkins, 
Cayuga, and Otsego, I have formed the acquaintance of at 
least forty ministers, and a thousand worthy brethren of the 
Christian Church." From the East he returned to his home 
in Meigs County, O., and soon started on his last journey — 
the one to Louisiana. The principal object of this journey was 
to visit a brother living in Natchez, but during his stay in the 
Southern States, he labored as usual in the ministry, and with 
great success. 

On his return, he took the cholera and died on the steam- 
boat, 105 miles below Louisville, Ky., May 29, 1833. He 
was an active, strong man, who devoted his whole life and 



236 MILES— MILLARD. 

energy to the cause. He was a regular correspondent and As- 
sistant Editor of the "Christian Palladium" at the time of his 
death. The circumstance of his death, from the contagion, on 
the steamboat, with no acquaintance near, and buried on the 
bank of the river, all alone, added to the sadness of the event, 
which was considered a great calamity to the denomination. 

Nelson Mxllae. (1798 — 1825.) — This minister was born 
in 1798, in Gosport, Va., where he lived until he had grown 
to manhood. He embraced religion while quite young, began 
to preach soon after, and was ordained in 1819. He was a fine 
speaker, and such was his zeal and earnestness in the work, 
that he traveled through Virginia, North Caroliua, and seme 
of the Northern States, every where rousing the people by his 
eloquence and enthusiasm. He was the means of bringing 
many to a knowledge of their fallen state, and leading them 
to a better life. His education was quite good, his preaching 
full of energy, and his delivery pleasant. In 1824, he was 
elected to the Virginia Legislature, where he took a promi- 
nent position as a speaker, and filled his place so satisfactorily 
that he was re-elected ; but he died September 13, 1825, a short 
time before the legislature again convened. His death was a 
great loss to the denomination, and much regret was expressed 
by his co-laborers in Virginia, and those places he had visited 
the most. A fine eulogy on his life was delivered by Elder 
Reuben Potter, at the time, which was read with great inter- 
est in all parts of the denomination, as the Elder's reputation 
was well known throughout the church. 

THE MILLARDS. Davie Millaed. (1794—1873.)— 
There is not a minister, probably, whose life is recorded in this 
volume, so well kown to the denomination in all parts of the 
country as David Millard, by his publications, his travels, and 
his poetry. He was a full man, naturally, his education, in 
the beginning, was respectable, and his activity unlimited. Be- 
ing blessed with robust health, generally, it enabled him to ac- 
complish a great amount of labor in the fifty-eight years of 
his ministry. I doubt if he was as brilliant as his friend, neigh- 
bor, and co-laborer, Badger. He did not possess the learning 
of Clough, the eloquence of Walter, nor the peculiar special 
gift of many others of our ministers, but in many respects, he 
surpassed them all. 

The following is a summary of his various changes in life, 



MILLARD. 237 

taken from the excellent volume of biography compiled by his 
son, Elder David E. Millard, and published in 1874 : Two 
brothers by the name of Robert and Nathaniel Millard came 
from England to Rehoboth, Mass., about 1650, on account of 
religious persecutions. David Millard is a decendant in the 
sixth generation of Robert, who was a Baptist minister. He 
was the son of Nathaniel Millard and was born at Glenville, 
Schenectady County, N. Y., on November 24, 1794. His 
mother's maiden name was Mary Hunter. The place of his 
birth was near the battle-ground of Burgoyne's defeat. He had 
education enough to teach common school. His education and 
good behavior gave him a respectable position among the 
youth of the neighborhood. Nancy Cram, whose name is re- 
corded in this volume, came from Vermont to preach in his 
father's neighborhood at a time when David was one of the di- 
rectors of a fashionable New Year's ball. The young man 
weut to hear the woman more, perhaps, from curiosity than 
anything else, but her appeals were so powerful that he gave 
up his management of the fashionable dance, absented him- 
self from the same, and consorted with the humble few 
that attended the meeting. After some struggle of mind, he 
determined to give himself entirely to the Lord. Almost from 
the time of his conversion, he felt that he must preach, and 
on March 16, 1816, he left his home to devote his time and 
talent to the service of God. He first joined his labors with 
Elder C. W. Martin, of Vermont, and the two young men had 
great success through Green and Delaware counties. He was 
ordained in Ballston, N. Y., August 4, 1816. From this time, 
his talents and zeal were acknowledged, and he at once took a 
leading position. He held meetings in various places with 
Elders William Cummings, Badger, and others. In 1817, he 
baptized Elder Hollister, at Ballston. His labors were con- 
stant from this time until June 27, 1819, when he married 
Miss Celia Hix, of Taunton, Mass. In September, the same 
year, he went to New England to visit his wife's relations and 
preach in various places while there. In 1818, he published 
the "True Messiah." In 1824, in company with Elder Morril, 
he made a long tour through the Southern States, especially 
Virginia. In 1825, he published the "Gospel Luminary" at 
West Bloomfield. He continued the publication of this 
monthly periodical until the third year, when Elder Clough 
became associated with him and the paper was moved to New 
York City, the management falling upon Elder Clough. In 



238 MILLARD. 

1825, he visited Canada, in company with Elder Joseph Bad- 
ger. In 183 1 , the "Millard and Badger Hymn Book" was pub- 
lished, and the same year, he held debates with those that dif- 
fered with him. He held one that year with Elder Hoag, on 
the Trinity. In 1832, all the periodicals of the denomination 
were united in the "Gospel Palladium," edited by Elder 
Joseph Badger, our subject being one of the most prominent 
managers. In 1833, he made an extensive tour through Ohio 
and Kentucky. Here I would observe that when Elder Millard 
visited a section of country, he did it to preach every day, to 
report the particulars of churches and ministers, and so ably 
that his letters became historical. From the latter date until 
October, 1841, when he started for Palestine and Egypt, he 
was sometimes pastor at West Bloomfield, N. Y., Portsmouth r 
N. H., Portland, Me., or traveling as missionary in Pennsyl- 
vania, Michigan, and New York. In the East, he spent nearly 
one year, during which time he visited Malta, Egypt, Pales- 
tine, the peninsula of Sinai, and Arabia Petrea. He also 
spent several weeks a quarantine prisoner in Smviua. 

In 1844, he was elected professor of the Meadville Theo- 
logical school, where he continued for years, giving great satis- 
faction in his lectures on Jewis 1-1 customs. The book he pub- 
lished on the subject of his journey in the East, under the 
name of "Millard's Travels" etc., is so well known, both in and 
out of his own denomination, that it is useless to mention the 
subject here. 

On his return from his long tour, he entered into his minis- 
terial work with the energy and zeal of youth. Beside regu- 
lar preachiug to his own church at West Bloomfield, and 
others in the State of New York, he traveled extensively, lec- 
turing on Palestine. These lectures were exhibited by magic 
lantern, and that, connected with his happy faculty of describ- 
ing the scenes of his journey, made them very interesting. In 
1852, he visited Ohio, and in 1854, Indiana, on lecturing 
tours, at the request of churches. In 1868, he moved to Jack- 
son, Mich., where his son, David E., was pastor of the church 
in that city. He continued to reside there to the last, doing what 
he could in the great work of preaching, and doing much good 
by his wise counsel in his ripe years. He died at his home in 
Michigan, August 7, 1873, in the seventy-ninth year of his 
age and the fifty-eighth of his ministry. 

From what has been said of Elder Millard, we see that his 
career was quite exceptional. As seen from the account given. 



MILLAKD. 239 

education, wealth, family connection, or denominational pres- 
tige gave him no position ; nor did the surroundings in a large 
city give him any advantage in this respect. Yet we see the 
boy from the rural district of Ballston battling Avith poverty,, 
preaching week days and Sunday for next to nothing, and ris- 
ing, in a few years, from an obscure boy to a national man, his 
writings on Theology, Politics, and Travels read by thousands 
that never knew the man or his church. Many persons reach 
distinction through fine personal appearance, ready wit, great 
eloquence, or brilliancy of conversation ; but plain David Mil- 
lard possessed none of these. The following may be some of 
the gifts that made Millard what he was : 

1st. Bodily strength. Working on his father's farm, in the 
rocky region of Saratoga County, N. Y. , had developed every 
muscle, bone, and organ in his body, so that, although his sys- 
tem became deranged by excessive labor, a little rest or 
change of climate and scenery set him all right again. When 
he left for the far East in 1841, his health was poor ; but a 
few months rough sailing on many seas, a ride through the 
sandy waste of Sinai, and a few weeks confinement in the filthy 
Lazaretto, of Smyrna — that would have killed many a weaker 
man, — set David Millard on his feet, and gave him a new 
lease of life. 

2nd. Entire consecration to the work of preaching. With 
less of this, with the talents that were soon developed in him, 
the temptation to turn aside to some more lucrative profession 
would have been almost irresistable ; and, like many others, 
his talent would have been lost to the church of his first choice, 
and would have graced some state legislature, the United 
States Congress, or, perhaps, a seat on the Judge's bench. He 
never swerved. Many of his comrades turned aside to medi- 
cine, law, or speculation, but he, with more talent, lived and 
died in the work, with no higher title than simply David Mil- 
lard. 

3rd. Readiness in composition as a writer. With Millard, 
this faculty was developed quite early. He had been in the 
ministry but two short years when, on account of misrepresen- 
tation of his views, he ventured to take the field as an author. 
"The True Messiah Exalted" was published. This pamphlet 
of thirty-eight pages was read far and near, and many were 
converted to the doctrines advocated therein. Soon alter, the 
"Gospel Luminary," a monthly periodical, was published in 
West Bloomfield, a small village in Western New York. It 



240 MILLARD. 

was dependent for its support upon the brethren of the scat- 
tered and poorly organized churches in the then new country. 
But under the ready and graphic pen of Millard it succeeded. 

4th. Great and fearless activity, combined with strict econ- 
omy. Without these, the other gifts would fail to carry him 
through. In reading the life of our brother, we see him con- 
stantly on the move, not only in places of apparent safety, but 
in places of real danger as well. We find him in 1823, with 
Elder Morrill as a companion, on his way to Virginia in a frail 
sailing ship, on the tempestuous sea, and nearly shipwrecked. 
Soon after, he traveled through Ohio and Kentucky, swimming 
his horse across strange and overflowing streams, subject to the 
deadly malaria so dangerous to unacclimated persons on the 
great rivers of the West in an early day. The same activity 
prompted him, with small means, to undertake the long and 
dangerous journey to Palestine, before the days of ocean steam- 
ers and systematic arrangements, with dragomen, to ascend 
the river Nile in an Egyptian sail boat, and cross the perilous 
peninsula of Sinai with untamed Arabs. The same activity, 
also, enabled him in seven weeks to prepare the volume of 
i 'Millard's Travels," and to keep up a vivid description on pa- 
per of all he saw in every country, and have them correctly 
recorded in print. All these with the proceeds of the small 
and uncertain salary of an itinerant Christian preacher. 

5th. Poetical genius. Though this does not enter largely 
into the work of his life, yet it is doubtless true that a poeti- 
cal mind can see and arrange objects more graphically, and 
hence more attractive to the majority of readers, than one that 
does not possess that faculty, though no effort be made to throw 
the composition to a poetical form. 

Such are the views of the compiler of Elder Millard. It 
was my privilege to have quite a thorough acquaintance with 
him, by being a student under him at Meadville, Penn., while 
delivering his lectures to the students on Jewish Antiquity 
and Sacred Geography, in the above Institution, by frequent 
correspondence at different times, and by personal intercourse 
at various occasions during the last thirty years. 

Elder Millard was one of the noble army of pioneers that 
fought the first battle for Christian liberty in the organization 
of the denomination. Among these were Jones, Smith, 
Plummer, the Peaveys, Badger, Shaw, Hathaway, and others, 
in the East, and not less brave warriors in the West and South. 
There were giants in those days, and our subject is not the least 



MILLARD— MILLER. 241 

of these mighty and valiant men who fought tne battles of the 
Lord in those trying times ; for when the ministers of the Chris- 
tian Church gave out an appointment to preach, it was not, as 
now, kindly received by other denominations. 

Israel Millard was a member of the South-eastern Mich- 
igan Christian Conference, at the time of his death. 

THE MILLERS. Abraham Miller. (1803—1872.)— 
Abraham was born in 1803. He had preached for some time, 
when he joined the Rayshill Pennsylvania Christian Confer- 
ence in 1847. His education was limited, but he was a man 
of great piety and earnestness, and success attended his labors. 
He carried on a farm while engaged in the work, but fre- 
quently went from home, oftentimes traveling a great distance. 
He assisted in the ordination of Elder B. A . Cooper, who trav- 
eled with him for some time. He died January 11, 1872, 
aged sixty-eight years. 

Frederick Miller. (1809 — 1844.) — Frederick was born 
in Alleghany County, Md., in 1809, was converted under the 
preaching of Elder Walter in 1827, and was baptized the year 
after by Elder Long. He soon became an active lay brother, 
and was ordained in 1830. He began to travel, preaching with 
great success. In 1833, he married Miss Rebecca L. Cha- 
ney, of Ohio, in Cumberland, Md., where she Avas visiting 
with her brother. In her he found a helpmate in the great 
work. The year after their marriage, they visited Ohio, 
preaching as they went. Soon after, he received a call to Cin- 
cinnati, where he labored very succeesfully ; the church re- 
vived and the cause prospered under his administration. He 
was, for sometime during his stay here, affected by the views 
of Alexander Campbell on baptism, but soon after his re- 
moval from the city, he abandoned these views and returned 
to the old ground. In 1837, he removed to Rockingham 
County, Va., and took charge of the Antioch Church, where 
he soon became an influential minister and a great favorite of 
the people. 

As a minister, he was eloquent and powerful in his appeals 
to the heart and conscience of his hearers. He was persever- 
ing in his purposes and untiring in his studies and pursuits to 
obtain knowledge. He was of a cheerful disposition, always 
ieadv to assist those who needed aid, and there were manv to 



242 MILLER. 

deplore his death in the midst of his usefulness. He died at 
his home in Rockingham County, March 11, 1844, in his thir- 
ty-fifth year. 

Rebecca L. Miller. (1814— 1844.)— Rebecca, wife of 
the preceding subject, was born in Greene County, O. , in 1814, 
and was converted under the labors of Elder Isaac N. Walter, 
at Williamsport, O. She commenced preaching soon 
after her conversion, and traveled much before her marriage in 
1833. Her life, from this time forward, was so closely allied 
with that of her husband, Elder Frederick Miller, that the his- 
tory of one is the history of the other. She was a very 
pleasant speaker, a fine reasoner, and a good historian. 
Thousands were called together to hear the gospel from her 
lips, from the novelty of seeing a woman stand up and preach 
the word. She would often chain the attention of the most 
skeptical for hours, with her flow of eloquence, and at no time 
was she ever at a loss for words to express her views on any 
subject that was brought up in the pulpit. She died March 
14, 1844, just four days after the companion whose toil and 
care she had shared on earth, and whose triumph and reward 
she went to share in a brighter world. 

James Mlller was a native of Maine, but his ministerial 
labors were confined principally to Tennessee. He was a min- 
ister of the Tennessee Conference in 1832, and great revivals 
were the result of his labors there about that time. He was 
the author of "Trinitarianism Unmasked." 

Jonathan Miller. ( 1817.) — This brother was a 

minister of the Calvinistic Baptist Church at New Bartholo- 
mew, N. Y., in 1812 or '13, when Elder Jasper Hazen, the 
first Christian minister in that part of the country, came to his 
house. He had been dissatisfied with the doctrines of partial 
salvation for years, and had repeatedly told his family that a 
people holding more liberal views would rise, and that he 
should finally find a home among them. On the coming of 
Elder Hazen, he told his wife that "this was one of the per- 
sons of whom he had spoken" and when a Christian Church 
was organized, he and all his family united with it, and from 
that time forward, he labored as a minister in the church until 
his death. He died in 1817, in the triumph of faith. One of 
his daughters married Elder Levi Hathaway. 



MILLER- MITCHELL. 243 

Samuel Miller was, for many years, a minister of consid- 
erable influence in the State of Indiana. He labored in Ran- 
dolph, Wayne, and adjoining counties in Eastern Indiana. 
He was then a member of the Bluffton Conference. After 
this, he moved to Tipton County, and joined the Miami Re- 
serve Conference. He died in 1877, not far from seventy 
years of age. He was a zealous man, of limited education, but 
quite successful in winning souls to Christ. 

Thomas Miller. (1812 — 1877.) — This brother was born 
October 17, 1812, and died near Evansville, Ind., February 
19, 1877. He commenced preaching in 1847. His education 
was limited, and his principal strength as a speaker consisted 
in his application of Bible quotations to the reformation of sin- 
ners. 

William Mills lived on Ludlow Creek, O., and died 
many years ago. 

Samuel Milner. (1817 — 1858.) — This brother was born 
in Indiana in 1817, and was brought up under the influence of 
the Methodist Church, which he joined when quite young. In 
1843, he united with the Christian Church and was ordained 
two years later, in Franklin County, Ind. In 1847, he removed 
to Huntington County, and in 1852, joined the Bluffton Con- 
ference. His education was limited but his zeal and faith in 
the work was great, and his labors were greatly blessed. He 
died February, 1858. 

THE MITCHELLS. Mitchell.— This minister 

was present at the organization of the Miami Conference in 
1814. He lived on Rattle Snake Creek. 

Amri Mitchell was a well known minister in the Christian 
Church from 1810 until 1815. 

Lewis H. Mitchell. (1828 — 1868.) — Lewis was born in 
Ohio, February 15, 1828, but moved with his parents to In- 
diana when quite a small child. He lost his mother at the 
age of twelve, and in 1844 went with his father's family to Jef- 
ferson County, Iowa. In 1849, he married Miss Elizabeth 
Carr, and in 1852, they both united with the Christian Church 
under the labors of Elder W. H. Phillips. He now felt that 



244 MITCHELL— MOORE. 

it was his duty to preach, but failing to do this he backslid, 
but renewed his covenant some time after in a United Breth- 
ren meeting, and began to preach for them, but on his return 
to the Christians he continued to preach in that church, and 
remained in that faith until death. He now devoted his time 
to the work, and joined the Des Moines Christian Conference, 
in which body he soon became a prominent member. In 1864, 
he joined the 7th Iowa Cavalry and continued in the army for 
over a year. In 1866, he joined the Union Christian Confer- 
ence, and labored in Washington County, until 1867, when he 
was appointed an evangelist in the bounds of the conference, 
a position for which he was well adapted. He continued to 
hold this position until his great exposure threw him into lung 
fever, from which he never recovered. He died January 6, 
1868, at the age of forty. 

THE MOORES. B. D. Moore. (1809— 1834.)— This 
Elder was born in 1809, moved from Compton, Lower Can- 
ada, to Niagara County, N. Y., in 1832, where he died May 1, 
1834, in his twenty-sixth year. 

Ephraim Moore was a co-laborer with John Miller and 
others in Tennesee, in 1806, and was quite old at that time. 

James Moore. (1785 — 1839.) — This Elder was born in 
1785. He spent the last years of his life in Darien Centre, 
Genesee County, N, Y., where he died January 24, 1839. 
From a letter he w T rote some weeks before his death, we find 
that he had joined the Christian Church some ten years before, 
and that he was still firm in that faith and ready to battle for 
the truth to the last. 

Peter Moore. (1751 — 1835.) — Peter was born in Can- 
dia, N. H., December 3, 1751. He was converted in 1767, 
and began to preach about 1791, being ordained for the work 
among the Baptists, in Deerfield, N. H. He remained in this 
place until 1817, when he moved first to Winthrop, Me., then 
to Vienna. About this time, he became convinced that Cal- 
vinism was not the true doctrine, and asked for dismission 
from the Baptist Church. Soon after this, he joined the Chris- 
tians. He continued in this faith, preaching regularly every 
Sunday until three weeks before his death. He died Septem- 
] er 9, 1835, aged eighty-four years, leaving an aged widow 
with whom he had lived happily for more than sixty years. 



MOORE— MORRILL. 245 

In some doctrinal points he differed somewhat from the ma- 
jority of the church ; but in the most essential point — salva- 
tion to all who repent and believe — the union was perfect. 

THE MORRILLS. George Morrill. ( 1843. i 

— This Elder was a young man, with a wife and one child, at 
the time of his death, December 22, 1843. In 1839, he be- 
came a member of the Rockingham Conference, at York, Me. 
In 1843, he had moved to Hope, N. J., in order to take the 
pastoral charge of some of the surrounding churches. But 
death came before he had really begun the work, and he de- 
parted in the triumph of faith. 

Obadiah E. Morrill began to preach about 1816, and 
moved to New York about the same time. He remained in 
that state until his death, and was one of the most useful 
and talented ministers iu the state. The first years in New 
York were spent at Cato, from which place he wrote several 
very able letters. He did not write much for the papers be- 
fore 1838, but after that time, he wrote frequently, some 
years, writing for nearly every number. These letters were 
full of interest, some of them relating to the progress of the 
Christian Church, and its increase in the different places where 
he had traveled ; others are on different doctrinal points, show- 
ing him to be a deep thinker and an earnest searcher after 
truth. In 1842, he was elected to the position of Chaplain of 
the State Penitentiary at Auburn, N. Y., one that he was well 
able to fill, not more from his talent than his deep sympathy 
and unostentacious piety. 

After leaving Auburn, he took charge of the Second Chris- 
tian Church in New Bedford, Mass., where he remained until 
1846, when he removed to Portsmouth, N. H., becoming a 
minister at large under the patronage of some wealthy persons 
in that city. In 1851, he lived in Finsville, N. J., and in 
1856, in Plainville, N. Y. He was a member of the Executive 
Committee of the Publishing Association of New York. His 
namo was on the record of the New York Central Conference 
as late as 1862. He continued to take a leading part in the 
enterprises of the church to the last. 

In person, the Elder was tall and dignified, with a keen eye 
and very intelligent countenance. He was sociable, and able 
to please any number of auditors. H : s attachment to friends 
and relatives was very strong. The Christian Church and its 



246 MORRILL— MORRIS. 

ministers were subjects of which he never tired, having, as he 
did, such an interest in the welfare of both. He was truly a 
denominational man, holding that the interest of his own 
church was always of the greatest importance, although he 
was very liberal and pleasant in his relations with other 
churches. In an argument, he displayed not only his rea- 
soning powers but wit and appreciation of his opponent's 
powers ; and, above all, a kind and gentlemanly spirit. It is 
a wonder that, with all my inquiries, I could obtain no con- 
nected history of Elder Morrill. In 1823, he made an exten- 
sive tour, in company with Elder Millard, to Virginia, by sea. 
During the journey, he preached several able sermons, not 
only in the churches but also in the seaport towns and on the 
vessel. 

THE MORRISES. Peter Morris. (1795—1835.)— 
Peter was born in 1795, and died October 9, 1835. He was 
one of the early Christian ministers. 

Robert W. Morris. (1831 — 1864.) — Robert was born in 
1831, and spent the greater part of his life in Tipton County, 
Ind. He joined the Miami Reserve Christian Conference in 
1858, and was ordained the year following. He labored faith- 
fully within the bounds of this Conference until death, and his 
work was greatly blessed. He died in Tipton County, Ind., 
September 30, 1864. 

Sylvester Morris. (1775— 1865.)— This Elder was 
born in Wilbraham, Mass., in 1775, but moved to New York 
in 1796, where he was married in 1797. He was converted in 
Watertown, N. Y., in 1807, and united with the Methodists, 
although differing with them in several doctrinal points. He 
also began to preach while among them, but in 1814, left them, 
and after his removal to Victor, Ontario County, N. Y., he, 
with a number of brethren, worshipped agreeable to the views 
of the Christians, but no church was formed, and on his re- 
moval to Henrietta, Monroe County, he labored on the same 
platform as before, and organized a church, although they, as 
yet, knew of no such body as the Christians. Elders Shaw and 
Badger visited them some time afterward and informed them 
of the Christian denomination, when they united themselves 
formally with the church. He joined the New York Central 
Christian Conference in 1841, and continued a member of that 



MORRIS— MORRISON. 247 

body until his death at Conesus, Livingstone County, April 9, 
1865, in the ninetieth year of his age. 

Sylvester Morris, a son of the preceding, was a member 
of tho New York Central Conference, and died the year pre- 
ceding the annual session of that body, June, 1877. 

T. Morris is mentioned by Elder Joseph Thomas in his 
travels through Virginia, as an aged man in 1810. 

Asa C. Morrison. (1797 — 1848.) — Asa was born in San- 
bornton, N. H., July 8, 1797, was converted in 1809, and com- 
menced preaching at twenty-two but was not ordained until 
two years after. He devoted his time, talents, and all wholly 
to his calling, and in the early part of his ministry, traveled 
extensively. Soon after entering upon his new duties, he left 
New Hampshire and went to the western part of New York, 
where he was ordained, from there to Canada, where he was 
very successful. From there he went to Pennsylvania, then to 
Ohio, laboring with all his energies wherever he went and his 
work was greatly blessed. But his constitution, though nat- 
urally strong, could not stand such a strain, and his health 
failing him, he was obliged to limit his field of labor. 

In 1838, he was chosen pastor of the church in Ogden, N. 
Y., and sustained this relationship for four years. Here he 
lost his wife, with whom he had lived happily for thirteen 
years. This great loss so affected him that he yielded to the 
wishes of his friends and returned with his daughters to New 
Hampshire, leaving a community strongly attached to him, 
and full of regret at his departure. He spent about five years 
in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and w T hile in this part 
of the country, married again, thus securing a companion who 
was a source of great comfort to him in his declining years, by 
her kindness and deep piety. In 1847, he returned to New 
York with his family and settled in Parma, where he remained 
until his death, May 1, 1848. Here he labored with great suc- 
cess, for while his health was failing slow T ly, the church was 
becoming strengthened and many additions were made during 
his pastorate. 

As a minister of the gospel, the Elder occupied a high stand- 
ing. He possessed a clear mind and sound judgment. His 
preaching was full of scriptural references, and his reliance 
strongly on the present, direct influence of the spirit to give sue- 



248 MORRISON— MORSE. 

cess to his labors. He was liberal and generous in his actions 
toward all sects, and for those who were out of the church, his 
heart seemed to yearn, his work manifesting in a great degree 
by its ardor, his great interest in their salvation. 

Morrow was a minister in Kentucky, and died 



many years ago. 

THE MORSES. Caleb Morse, sr. (1795— 1872.)— A 
minister of the above name was born in Rhode Island, May 5, 
1795, and was married to Huldah Arnold in 1815. He was 
converted about the same time, under the labors of Elder 
Douglas Farnham, and in 1817, was set apart for the work of 
the ministry by the same preacher, in connection with others. 
About 1820, he moved to the Darby Plains, and settled near 
Irwin Station, where he remained until his death, in 1872. 

Caleb Morse, jr. (1824— 1869.)— This Eider was a son 
of the preceding. He was born on the Darby Plains, Septem- 
ber 4, 1824. He was brought up under the influence of the 
Christians, was converted early, began to preach in 1845, and 
was ordained in 1847. December 5, 1848, he was married to 
Chloe P. Wells, of Hartford, Licking County, O., with whom 
he lived happily till death. He died in Montgomery County, 
O., August 16, 1869, aged forty-four years, eleven months, 
and twelve days. Having successfully preached as a mission- 
ary for a few years, and feeling a desire to acquire more edu- 
cation, in September, 1852, he entered Antioch College as a 
student, and continued there until his graduation, in 1859. 
His pastorates, after leaving college, were Cincinnati, Ebene- 
zer, Waterloo, Clark's Run, Antioch, Williamsport, Grassy 
Point, and Shiloh in all of these he succeeded well. During 
his time in college, he labored under many disadvantages, for 
at this time he supported himself and family, having charge of 
some churches during the whole time. But his studies did not 
end with his graduation — he read whenever opportunity of- 
fered. Thus an already varied and liberal stock of informa- 
tion was being continually enlarged. He was a prominent 
member of the Christian Publishing Association, and, as such, 
transacted the business of transferring the "Herald of Gospel 
Liberty" and the "Denominational Hymn Book" from New 
England to Ohio. In 1867, he accepted the traveling agency 
of the Ohio State Association, and devoted all his time to this 



MORSE— MORTON. 249 

work until his death, and for this purpose removed to Spring- 
field, O. 

As a minister and pastor, he had few superiors in the pulpit 
or in any of the many qualities which constitute an able, 
acceptable, and successful ministry. His style of speaking was 
deliberate and clear, and as he progressed in his sermons, he 
grew animated and became so earnest that sinners felt, in spite 
of themselves, there was truth in all that had been said. His 
sermons were always filled with this earnestness, no matter 
what the size of the congregation or the surrounding circum- 
stances were, he always felt that he was laboring for Christ, 
for the good of souls, and that he ought in no wise to slight 
his work. In revival work, he was very successful ; being 
strong, he could endure the fatigue attending constant preach- 
ing. The earnestness and warmth that characterized his usual 
sermons seemed to be doubled when he saw the seeker pray- 
ing or venturing from the ranks of the unconverted. There 
were very few Avho could withstand his powerful appeals, for 
he spared the feelings of none, but showed the teachings of 
Christ in the plainest manner. Hundreds there are in this 
state who refer to this brother as the instrument, under the 
blessing of God, by which thev were brought to a knowledge of 
their perilous condition, and to a means of saving grace. 

Elder Morse had gone to attend a meeting near Dayton, O., 
and while in the pulpit, not being well before, the fatal illness, 
of which he died, seized him and he died in a little more than a 
week after the first symptom appeared. From the church he 
was taken to the house of a brother, where he continued imtil 
death. His family was with him from the beginning. 

Jotham Morse. (1792 — 1878.) — Jotham was born in 
1792, and died at West Shelby, N. Y., September 18, 1878. 
He moved to Orleans County, when the whole country was a 
forest, and was ordained in 1824. For sixty-five years, he was 
a faithful minister of the Word. He was entirely blind and 
greatly afflicted some time before he died. 

Squire Morton. (1797 — 1867.) — This Elder was born in 
1797, and was converted under the labors of Elder Allen 
Huntley, the first minister of the Christian Church who 
preached in Canada. Elder Morton was one among the first 
converts in Canada and joined the first church, which was 
organized near Lake Simco by Elder Huntley, in 1821. He 
16 



250 MORTON— MOSHER. 

bought a farm in 1835, near Union Street Christian Church, 
with which he united, and after his ordination in 1835, by El- 
ders Henry, Spoon er, and Smith, he became the pastor of this 
church, and continued this relation until death, March 3, 1867. 
He left behind a wife and nine children. He was highly es- 
teemed and greatly beloved as a pastor, as his long pastor- 
ship will testify. His worth in preaching was nis great knowl- 
edge of the Bible. In this he was perfectly at home. In this, 
also, he was a close reasoner of far more- than ordinary ability. 
He has a daughter, Sister Jenny Thompson, who is an able 
minister of the same church at the present time (1880). 

THE MOSHERS. Caleb Mosher.— This Elder was 
formerly from Gal way, N. Y. , and was baptized there by Elder 
Rider in 1842. In 1843, he settled with the churches in Sodus 
and Alton, Wayne County, where he also organized several 
churches in the same vicinity. After laboring in the latter 
place for three years, he moved to Vermont, Chautauqua 
County, N. Y. In 1855, he moved west, and settled with a 
new church at Sylvania, O. , in the bounds of the South-eastern 
Michigan Christian Conference, where he died soon after. 

Calvin Mosher was a minister who was brought up in New 
York, moved to Michigan, and died there. 

Charles Mosher was a member of the South-eastern 
Christian Conference of Michigan, and died the year previous 
to its session in 1871. 

Edward H. Mosher. (1816 — 1855.) — Edward was born 
in 1816, was converted and began to preach when youug, and 
w 7 as ordained in 1841. He labored with much success at 
Marion, Cicero, and Greenville, N. Y., before 1846, when he 
took charge of the church at Royalton, the same state, where 
he continued until 1852. His health w T as always poor. On 
leaving Royalton, he moved within the bounds of the Erie 
Christian Conference, and labored for a short time as a mis- 
sionary; but his health failing him, he gave up that work and 
moved to Jackson, Ind., where he died April 16, 1855, at the 
age of thirty-nine, leaving a wife and two children. Although 
his health was quite poor all through his ministry, he was very 
active and accomplished a great deal in the vineyard of the 
Lord. 



MOSHER- MOULTON. 251 

Edwin Mosher was a minister in Michigan, and died in that 
;state. 

Maxon Mosher was born and brought up in Galway, Sar- 
atoga County, N. Y. He was converted early in life, and was 
set apart for the work of the ministry in 1820. He was a 
member of the New York Eastern Christian Conference, and 
in connection with Elder Rider, held the pastorate of the 
church at Galway from the time of his ordination until his 
death, which occurred about 1852. He was one of those quiet, 
steadfast men, who do no brilliant deeds by which they are re- 
membered, but his memory will always be fresh in the minds 
of his parishoners at Galway, Avhere his life was spent. 

Peter Mosher labored in Kentucky, and died there at the 
age of forty. 

Richard Mosher was brought up m Galway, K Y., be- 
gan to preach there in 1832, moved to Ballston in 1835, and 
-continued there one year. In 1836, he labored in Charleston 
Four Corners, supplying for Elder John Ross, and 1841, he 
vhad charge of the churches at Hunterland and Reedsville, 
where he continued for several years. He died about 1860. 

Wilson Mosher was a Christian minister, who died near 
Belding, Mich., about 1876. He had been laboring in and 
around Otsego, the same state, since 1847. 

THE MOULTONS. Avery Moulton. ( 1829.) 

— This brother was one of the pioneer ministers of Canada, 
and spent a long life in the ministry. Elder Joseph Badger 
was baptized by him, and the relation between them, for years, 
was like that of father aud son. His life and ministry have 
been highly spoken of. He died at Stanstead, Lower Canada, 
July 14, 1829, at an advanced age. 

T. C. Moulton was a native of Canada. In 1850, he en- 
tered the Meadville Theological School, and graduated with 
honor three years later. During his course of study, he 
preached very often and held a high position in the esteem 
of both teachers and students, both as a man of talent and of 
great moral worth. After his graduation, he preached a few 
years for a Congregational Church of liberal people, in Ashta- 
bula County, O. , but his life work was with the First Christian 



252 MOULTON— MULLEN. 

Church in New Bedford, Mass. During his connection with 
this large church, he not only performed the duties of pastor 
and preacher with satisfaction to all, but in the meantime, did 
much denominational work in the preparation of the "Denom- 
inational Hymn Book" for the press, writing for the different 
periodicals, etc. This constant and wearing labor for twelve 
years, how T ever, shortened his life. Before leaving New Bed- 
ford, his nervous system gave away, and he lay at the point of 
death for some time ; but his strong constitution and temperate 
habits, with the blessing of heaven, overcame the disease and 
he recovered in some degree. At this time, he received a call 
from the church at Franklin, where he nearly regained his 
health, and the future seemed brightening before him. In the 
summer of 1871, he accepted a call from the Yellow Springs 
Church, and had started to the place, when he became pros- 
trated with his old disease, and quietly passed away in four or 
five days, leaving a wife and tw T o children, with a whole de- 
nomination, to mourn his loss. He was a man of excellent 
character, and was beloved by all. 

James Moultry. (1766 — 1828.) — James was born in 
North Carolina in 1766, was baptized, and joined the Baptist 
Church in 1804, in which body he began to preach, and was 
ordained in the same connection. In 1809, he moved to Indi- 
ana, and settled in Salem, on the Wabash, and was pastor of 
the church there for some time. When the Christian minis- 
ters came to that place, he invited them to his house and 
opened the doors of the church to them, for which he was tried 
and expelled from the Baptist Church in 1814. He then 
united with the Christian Church, devoting all his time and 
energies to the spread of the faith, and was the means of ac- 
complishing a great amount of work. His manners and ad- 
dress was plain and unaffected, and his piety and usefulness 
universally acknowledged. His excessive labor brought on 
a pulmonary disease, which prevented his preaching for several 
months before his death, September 21, 1828. 

David Mudge. (1748— 1841.)— This Elder was born in 
1748, was preaching near South Waterloo, N. Y., in 1809, 
and died near Elmira, the same state, in September, 1841, aged 
ninety- three years. 

Larkin Mullen. (1813— 1865.)— The subject of this 
sketch was born in Licking County, Ky., August 7, 1813, 



MULLEN— MYERS. 253 

moved to Indiana in 1819, was married to Martha Beard Feb- 
ruary 4, 1834, being converted, was baptized by Elder John 
Hull February 4, 1841, and joined the Bluffton Conference, 
Ind., soon after. He was a man of far more than ordinary 
talent as a speaker, especially in revival meetings, where hun- 
dreds were converted under his labors. His education was 
limited and his support scant, hence he followed his trade of 
blacksmithing, and never devoted his whole time to the minis- 
try. His labors were confined mostly to Randolph and ad- 
joining counties in Ohio and Indiana. He died at his home 
in Randolph County, October 11, 1865. As a revivalist, he 
had few equals, scores being added to the churches by conver- 
sion where he preached during many of his protracted meet- 
ings. 

Samuel Mulner. ( 1858.) — This minister was 

converted when nineteen years old, was ordained in 1845, ami- 
died in Huntington County, Ind., March 12, 1858. 

William Munroe was a member of the Eastern Michigan 
Conference. He died about 1879. 

Joseph Murray died in North Carolina several years ago. 
He was a good man, and, on account of his great knowledge 
of the Scriptures, was called "The Walking Bible." 

F. R. Muse died about 1879. He was a'pioneer minister 
of the Kentucky Christian Conference. 

THE MYERS. Johx Myers. (1791— 1866.)— This El- 
der was, for many years, a resident of Licking County, O., a 
member of the Sylvania Christian Church, and of the Mt. 
Vernon Conference. In 1844, he had been in the ministry 
but a few years, although he must have been, at that time, 
over sixty years old. "Uncle John," as he was called, was 
very zealous in the cause, and had become a useful preacher, 
feeling that no sacrifice was too great for such a glorious work. 

He was a large man, with much of the German brogue, 
quite eccentric in his expressions, but always full of good 
sense. He generally had good congregations, and many date 
their conversion to his influence as an exhorter. He moved 
to Illinois between 1852 and '55, and died in that state in 
1866, not far from seventy-five years of age. 



254 MYERS— NASON. 

Nicholas Myers. (1817 — 1867.)— Our present subject 
was a native of Germany, and carried with him through life 
many of the ways of the Fatherland, speaking with a great 
deal of brogue to the last. He settled near Peru, Ind., aud, 
in time, became quite wealthy After his conversion, he be- 
gan to preach, and was ordained in the Tippecanoe Confer- 
ence, in the business affairs of which he always took an active 
part. He was a trustee of Union Christian College from the 
first, and there were few who could give better counsel than 
he, or were better able to transact business. His death, which 
occured at his home, near Peru, in 1867, at the age of fifty, 
was a great loss to the Christian cause iu that part of the coun- 
try. 

Clement Nance. (1757 — 1828.) — Clement was born in 
Virginia, in 1757, joined the Methodist Church in 1776, and 
commenced preaching in 1782. He left that church and 
joined the party of O'Kelly in 1793. On moving to Ken- 
tucky, some years later, he joined the Christians in that state 
in their formation as a distinct body. He lived in the terri- 
tory of Indiana as early as 1812, and at the time ot his death, 
July 21, 1828, was a member oi the Indiana Central Con 
ference. Elder Barton W. Stone, speaking of his death in the 
* 'Christian Messenger," gives him great praise, not only as a 
good man, but as a very useful and efficient minister. Elder 
Stone had been intimately acquainted with him for many years. 

THE NASONS. Samuel Nason. (1818— 1865.)— Bro- 
ther Nason was born May 9, 1818. Early in life, he learned 
the saddler's trade at Levant, Me., and became interested in 
religion by reading ''Baxter's Call" and other books of the- 
same nature. He joined the church, was baptized when fif- 
teen years of age, and commenced preaching before he was- 
twenty, being ordained two years later. About this time, he 
married a daughter of a Baptist minister, Miss Hannah Seavey,. 
who died in 1863. They lived, for a time, at Stetson, but in 
1839, moved to Albion. Here the Elder was very successful* 
baptizing 100 persons soon after his arrival — some of whom 
became ministers. During all this time, he was working at 
his trade, sometimes going thirty miles to a night meeting. 
He labored at Bangor for some time, going from there to Pen- 
obscot and adjoining counties. After his wife's death, he took 
charge of the church at Green Point, N. Y. , but when his health 



XASOX— XEWLAXD. 255 

began to fail, he returned to Bangor, where he died, July 3, 
1865. He willed 82,300 of his property to the Christian 
Church in Maine. 

W. H. Nason. (1804— 1877.)— Elder Xason, an elder 
brother of the preceding, was born at Sanford, York County, 
Me., June 3, 1804, received a common school education, was 
converted in 1814, and in 1825, was baptized by his uncle, 
Elder Henry Frost, when he joined the Second Christian 
Church in Monmouth, the same state. Soon after, he be- 
gan to preach, but became discouraged with his success and 
abandoned the work, in a measure, for five years, but finally, 
after having lost two sons, one by drowning, which the father 
considered a divine visitation for not doing his duty, he entered 
the work with new vigor, was ordained in 1842, and continued 
faithful until death, doing much for the advancement of the 
cause in his fields of labor. He labored as pastor in East New- 
port, Me., Rye, West Springfield, Walborough, Xewton, San- 
bornton, Cole brook, Columbia, Andover, Mar low, and Mason, 
X. H., and West Mansfield, Mass. He died in West Spring- 
field, N.H., March 28, 1877. 

Elder Xason was a decidedly pious man. He held views on 
the subject of Sanctification that differed, in some degree, from 
the majority of his brethren of the Christian Church, and it 
grieved him sometimes that others did not see as clearly as 
himself, that Christ made his disciples free from all sin. He 
was a frequent contributor for our periodicals, and his articles 
always bore the mark of deep piety. In his last illness, he 
suffered much, but his mind was calm under the affliction, for 
he realized that he was in the hand of a loving Father. He 
occupied a prominent position in his field of labor for about 
forty years, and for twenty-five years of this time, he was Sec- 
retary of the Merrimac Conference, Xew Hampshire. He 
was more noted for deep piety and zeal than for intellectual 
greatness. 

Joseph Xesmith was born in Virginia, in which state he 
labored and died. 

B. Xewhouse was a member of the Bluffton Conference, 
Ind. He died about 1867. 

Jabez Newlaxd. (1785 .) — This minister was 

born about 1785, and had lived and preached in Lower Can- 



256 NEWLAND— NUTT. 

ada before he moved to Hyde Park, Vt., where he labored 
for many years. He was a plain, moderate preacher, and lim- 
ited in education. He carried on a farm as a means of support. 

F. R. Neuse was a prominent minister of the Kentucky 
Christian Conference. He lived at Plummer's Landing, Ky. , 
and died May 23, 1879. 

J. P. Nicholson was a member of the New York South- 
ern Conference. He died about 1878. 

William Nobles. (1809 — 1874.)— William was bom in 
Herkimer County, N. Y., March 11, 1809, moved to Canada 
in 1822, embraced religion and was baptized by John F. Baily 
in 1826, and became one of the seven chartered members of 
the Haldimand Christian Church. He commenced preaching 
in 1829, and after traveling- as an evangelist a year or two, he 
settled as pastor with the Haldimand Church, which position 
he occupied about thirty years, until failing health compelled 
him to resign. He died in Hope, Mich., February 25, 1874. 

Elder Nobles was not a fluent speaker, but he possessed a 
sound mind, a fair education, and a very extensive knowledge, 
both of sacred and secular history, which he obtained by ex- 
tensive reading that made him quite interesting, both in pub- 
lic speaking and private conversation. He published the first 
religious periodical that was ever issued in Canada. He spent 
the latter part of his life in Michigan, though not in the regu- 
lar work, on account of poor health, yet doing much on funeral 
occasions, Sunday-schools, and such work, where he was very 
useful. 

Mark Norms. (1768 — 1832.) — Our present subject was 
born in 1768, and died in Hartwick, Vt., May 12, 1832. He 
was one of the first settlers of that place. He professed relig- 
ion in the Christian Church. He was an able worker, and 
was the means of doing much good. 

Bowman North. (1809 — 1839.) — This brother was born in 
1809, and was ordained in 1836. He had just entered upon 
the duties of pastor of the church at Clinton, Me., when he 
died, June 3, 1839. ' 

Samuel Nutt. (1784—1872.) — This Elder was born in 
1784. He entered upon the woik of the ministry when quite 



NUTT— O'KELLY. 257 

young, and for a great many years, was one of the most ener- 
getic of the ministers of the time. He traveled extensively in 
different parts of the United States and one of the Provinces 
of Canada, and was truly called a "pilgrim and a stranger." In 
1842, he lived in Troy, Me., but his last charge was in Frank- 
lin, N. H., where he died September 18, 1872, aged eighty- 
seven years, having been for some time superannuated on a 3- 
count of age and infirmity. He began to preach in the Bap- 
tist Church, but in 1806, he joined the Christians, and from 
this time forward, his labor was not confined to any one place or 
state. Wherever he went, from Maine to Ohio, reformation 
followed reformation. He baptized about three thousand con- 
verts, but the number converted under his labor was much 
larger. He was one of those ministers well known in all parts 
of the country, on account of his travels, success, and the long 
time he continued in the ministry, but for the lack of a biog- 
rapher, we have but detached sketches of his life and labor. 

John Isuttek. (1790 — 1872.) — This Elder was born in 
N, H., in 1790, and began to preach in 1828. He spent a 
long and useful life in the ministry, and died at North Barn- 
stead, N. H., July 11, 1872. 

James O'Kelly. (1753— 1829.)— Although James O'Kelly 
was the first man in America to plead tor the principles of the 
Christian Church as it now stands, and although his name is 
one familiar to the members of every Christian family, yet in 
all my searching, I have not been able to find a full biography 
of this great man. It is probable that [he was born in 1753, 
and therefore about seventy-six years old at the time of his 
death in 1829, and was about forty years old when he opposed 
the Episcopizing of the Methodist Church. He was converted, 
and became a leading minister among the Methodists of Vir- 
ginia. After the close ot the Revolutionary War, when 
the Methodists of America had separated from their brethren 
in England, John Wesley wrote from Bristol, England, Sep 
tember 10, 1784, to Dr. Coke, Francis Asbury, and others, ad- 
vising them how to proceed in the future. Asbury and Coke 
desired to Episcupize the church in America, and made an 
announcement to that effect in the conference ; and for the 
purpose of deciding the matter, a General Conference was 
called to meet in Baltimore in 1792. Preparatory to this meet- 
ing, James O'Kelly, too, had been studying concerning this 



258 O'KELLY. 

subject, and came to the conclusion that the Bible was suffi- 
cient as a standard of faith. During the discussion, he arose 
with the Bible in his hand, and cried out, "Brethren, hearken 
unto me. Put away all other books and forms, and let this 
(holding up the New Testament) be the only criterion, and 
that will satisfy me." This, with other propositions of the 
same nature, was bitterly opposed by many, ard the majority 
voted against him, Francis Asbury was made Bishop, the first 
in the Methodist Church, and James O'Kelly, with about one 
thousand others, left the body and organized the Christian 
Church. They called themselves at first, "Radical Metho- 
dists," but the name Christian was soon proposed by Rice 
Haggard, and adopted by the entire body. It is said that 
Elder O'Kelly ruled the body, which was soon numbered by its 
thousauds, by his personal presence and talent, as completely 
as Francis Asbury ruled the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
This could not last, however, for in 1809, Elder O'Kelly 
taught that baptism by sprinkling should be the rule in the 
new church, to the exclusion of all other modes. This was in 
consequence, likely, that many of the members, untrammeled 
by creeds, had begun the practice of immersion. This prop- 
position of Elder O'Kelly was not received very cordially by 
the'majority, although many adopted it, and thence arose a di- 
vision that lasted some time. 

Elder O'Kelly was a strong believer in sprinkling, and that 
Christ, in his divine nature, was God, but denied the doctrine 
of the Trinity. He impressed his views to a great extent on 
the body called for sometime, by his name, as O'Kellyites. In 
a free, untrammeled church, however, it is impossible for any 
one man, however strong, to rule a body long. The Elder soon 
learned that. In a conference, where the subject of baptism 
was discussed, and being strongly opposed, he asked William 
Guiry, who was one of the strongest of the opposers, "Who 
rules this body, you or I?" The quick response was, ''Neither 
of us, brother, Christ rules here." 

In the Methodist Church, James O'Kelly stood as high 
as either Asbury or Coke, being a Presiding Elder, the 
highest office in the original Wesleyan Church, and hence 
when he opposed these brethren in conference on the question 
of the appointment of Bishop, it was "Greek meeting Greek." 
Beside the quality of strength and boldness, however, Elder 
O'Kelly had other traits that we love better to dwell upon. 
He was a pure, good and holy man, to the day of his death, and 



O'KELLY. 259 

even to the present time, the name of this good man is held 
with peculiar veneration by thousands of his fellow church 
members. Meeting houses and other things of sacred associa- 
tion are named after him. He was a writer of considerable 
ability. The following are some of the works he published : 
"Anotation on his book of Discipline," 1809, "Apology for Re- 
jecting Episcopacy" 1802, "Vindication of the Author's Apol- 
ogy," with reflections on the reply and remarks of Bishop As- 
bury, "The Divine Oracles Consulted, or an Appeal to the 
Law and Testimony," 1820, "Church Government," in which 
he opposed American Slavery. There are several other works 
of his, whose titles I have not. 

The following, from the pen of Brother J. D. Gunter, of 
the North Caroliua University, although a repetition of some of 
the items in the above, is so full and to the point, that I insert 
it here : 

"James O'Kelly was born, brought up, and educated in Vir- 
ginia. He was a classmate of Thomas Jefferson and Patrick 
Henry. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church ? 
was one of the leading divines in the Virginia Conference, and 
was strongly in favor of an injured preacher ; i. e., one ap- 
pointed to a weak circuit by the Bishop, aud that the preacher 
should have the right to appeal to the conference from such 
an appointment, and it was argued in such a masterly manner 
that no one in the conference could meet his argument, where- 
upon the Bishop, in an abrupt manner, said it should not N be 
allowed. Then it was that Mr. O'Kelly picked up his hat and 
left the conference, and was followed by fifteen or twenty 
other ministers, among whom was Mr. McKendra, who went 
back to the conference, was made Bishop, and settled in the 
West. When Mr. O'Kelly's death was announced to him, he 
was silent for a time and exclaimed : 'A great man in Israel 
has fallen.' Mr. O'Kelly spent a day in Washington, while 
Congress was in session. He went to the Capitol to see his 
friends, Jefferson and Henry, who were to speak the next day. 
Mr. Jefferson told O'Kelly that after the speaking, he must 
preach. He tried to excuse himself, but his two friends would 
have no excuse, so he consented. The next day, the speaking 
being over, Mr. Jefferson moved an adjournment to give Rev. 
Mr. O'Kelly an opportunity to preach. Congress was ad- 
journed, and he preached one of his best sermons to the Con- 
gress of the United States, in the Capitol. After the sermon. 
Mr. Jefferson arose with tear- in his eves and said he was no 



260 O'KELLY. 

preacher, but he believed that James O'Kelly was one of the 
greatest divines living. 

After Mr. O'Kelly left the Methodist Church, he became a 
leader and established the Christian Church, then moved to 
Chatham County, North Carolina. Colonel H. B. Guthrie, 
from whom this information is received, says he heard a very 
eminent ^divine of the Presbyterian Church say, that Mr. 
O'Kelly [preached to five different congregations in one day, 
and there was no sameness in one of the sermons — all different. 
Mr. O'Kelly was a strong advocate of infant baptism, was vir- 
tually opposed to immersion, and would not baptize by immer- 
sion. He was a man of deep piety. He breathed his last near 
O'Kelly's Chapel, in Chatham County, N. C, in the midst of 
his children, grand-children, and friends, and was buried at the 
church w T hich bears his name. He is quietly waiting for the 
resurrection morn." 

As Jones and Smith in the East, Stone and Purviance in 
the West, so O'Kelly, Haggard, Guiry, and others stood up 
for the Bible alone in the South. Each party left its impress 
upon its own section. The brethren in the East, to this day, 
show more or less of Baptist proclivities, those in the West 
have many Presbyterian features, and those in the South very 
much of the Methodist tendency. O'Kelly exerted a greater 
influence during his life than any one man in the section 
where the Christians took their rise. Either he was an abler 
man than his comrades, or more positive, or his previous lead- 
ership in the Methodist Church gave him a superiority that 
continued for many years. There can be no doubt as to his 
talent or his goodness — all agree to give him these traits. In 
•his position of opposition to Episcopacy in the Methodist 
Church, he had the strong backing of John Wesley, the father 
of Methodists, and all the denomination in England. No one 
in that day opposed Episcopacy in the Wesleyan Church more 
than John Wesley. The pungent letter written by the 
leader of the body in England to his brother, Francis Asbury, 
the leader of the same body in America, is well known. Call- 
ing Asbury by his given name, as was customary with the 
early Methodists, "Francis," says the great John Wesley, 
"call me thief, scoundrel, or anything else, but for the cause's 
sake call me not Bishop," etc. But Avhen O'Kelly began to 
examine the nature of church government for himself, he went 
beyond the liberality of the Weslevs ; for he not only saw the 
great injury that the ministerial class had done, but also 



O'KELLY— ORRELL. 261 

the injury, creeds, and forms, in binding peoples' minds to re- 
ligion ; but such was the nature of the times, that he, who 
fought so manfully against the tyranny of others, was not will- 
ing to allow his brethren to be baptized by immersion ; yet 
with these few and small inconsistencies, which were owing 
more to the times and circumstances than to himself, Elder 
O'Kelly was a good and great man. 

Abel Olive was a native of North Carolina, liviug in 
Wake County. He moved to the West in 1807, and died 
there before 1826. He was a cotemporary of James O'Kelly 
and the dissenters from the Methodist in 1793. 

John Orcott. (1796 — 1846.) — This Elder was a member 
of the Vermont Conference, and his principal field of labor 
was within its bounds, although he preached in New York for 
a year or more. But he moved back to Vermont, where he 
died in 1846, when about fifty years of age. He was a 
farmer, but he faithfully performed his pastoral duties ; and 
although he did not travel extensively, yet he did good work 
wherever he labored. 

John Orrell. (1820 — 1876.) — As I sit here, writing a 
short biography of my intimate friend and school-mate, 
tears come unbidden to my eyes when I remember the many 
happy seasons we spent together in talking about our early 
lives in the old country. Brother Orrell had more than or- 
dinary gifts in conversation, and he especially delighted to talk 
over his life and adventures in the cotton mills of England 
and Pennsylvania. The remembrance of these enables me to 
record a part of his adventurous career. 

He was born in Bolton, Lancastershire, England, about 
1820. He continued to live in that city, working in the cot- 
ton mills from early life. After working at his trade till his 
majority, as he had some relations in America, the young man 
decided to try his fortunes in the new world. After tramping 
for a while in search of work, he found employment at Gulf 
Mills, and under the preaching of Godfrey Hawk, joined the 
Christian Church. It was soon observed that the factory boy 
had more than ordinary gift as a speaker in social meetings, 
and his zeal was commensurate with his talent. He attended 
Dr. Robertson's school in Philadelphia. Under the tuition of the 
good Scotchman, who, also, as a rarity, was a zealous member 



262 ORRELL— ORTON. 

of the Christian Church, Orrell grew in knowledge and zeal 
with great rapidity. Through the influence of Dr. Robertson 
and others, he was induced to apply for admission to the Mead- 
ville Theological School. He entered the school in 1846, and 
continued there four years. As his knowledge in the common 
branches was limited, and as the writer of these lines had been 
in the institution one year, it was his privilege to become a 
voluntary teacher and director of the new student ; and a bet- 
ter pupil than John Orrell no one ever had. He at once grew 
in knowledge. During his first year, he read "Rollin's Au- 
cient History," "Gibbon's Rome," and "Hallam's Middle Ages," 
with many other works, beside mastering the studies of the 
year equal to the best studont in the class. 

In 1850, he graduated in the four years course, and after 
" candid ating" a while in the Middle States and in the West, 
he settled in Providence, R. L, with the Sailors' Bethel Church. 
From there, he took charge of a church in New Bedford, where 
he became acquainted with our excellent brother, Crapo, who 
was afterward elected Governor of the State of Michigan. El- 
der Orrell married a daughter of Brother Crapo. His last reg- 
ular work was as teacher and preacher of the Freedmen of the 
South during, and perhaps after, the Avar of the Rebellion. 
He finally settled down in Flint, Mich., being engaged in the 
lumber business with some members of the Crapo family. He 
died in Flint, in 1876. 

Few of the students of Meadville possesed better talent than 
Orrell. He had a fine delivery, with a slight English accent. 
He was quick with the pen, and his composition was deep, 
easy, and sprightly. In our correspondence, in later years, 
when deploring his absence from the active ministry, he always 
acknowledged his interest in the work of preaching the gospel. 
After an intimate acquaintance ot many years, I consider El- 
der John Orrell a good and able man. He left a wife and 
several children to mourn their great loss. 

John Orton was a native of North Carolina but spent a 
great part of his life in Tennessee. He was converted in the 
Methodist Church, but joined the Christians, and was bap- 
tized by Elder John Miller in 1 807. He could not read and 
was very ignorant of everything except the Bible. His minis- 
try was chiefly spent in going trom one place to another, start- 
ing great revivals. It is said that he returned to the Metho- 
dists, but nothing definite is known of his later days. 



OSBURN— OWENS. 263 

John Osburn. (1769 — 1832.) — This brother was a pro- 
minent minister as early as 1810, as in that year, he baptized 
Elder Israel Chesley, two years later, performed his marriage 
ceremony, and four years after this, preached his ordination 
sermon. Elder Osburn was converted in the Congregational 
Church, and was educated for the ministry of the same. He 
continued a prominent minister of that church for many years. 
During the war of 1812, he gave up his state pay, to which 
he was entitled as a minister, because of the hardness of the 
time. Several years before he died, he became a teetotaler — a 
strange thing for a minister in that day. His principal field 
of labor was in New Durham and Lee, N. H. In 1829, he 
held a great revival in Exeter, N-. H. , and organized a church 
of over forty members. His last charge was in Lee, where he 
died in 1832. 

Wheeler Oviatt. (1797 — 1879.) — This brother was 
born in Milford, Conn., in 1797, and died in Oregon, Lapeer 
County, Mich., January 20, 1879. In 1820, he was married 
to Miss Rhoda Cornish at Oil Creek, Penn., and was converted 
the same year. In 1824, he moved to Royalton, N. Y., and 
joined the Christian Church under the labors of Elder Joseph 
Badger. Some time after, he was ordained to the Christian 
ministry at Cambria, N. Y., and traveled extensively through 
the Eastern States and Canada. He moved to Michigan in 
1854, and settled in Lapeer County, where he labored faith- 
fully till within one year of his death. 

George Owens. (1794 — 1855.) — This minister was of 
Welsh descent. He was born in Virginia, October 27, 1794. 
His mother died in 1806, and in the same year, he moved to 
Xenia, O., to the home of Mrs. Harris, a married sister, and 
was married to Deborah Marsh May 11, 1811. September 8, 
1825, his wife died. They had two children, but both died 
while young. June 8, 1826, he married Malinda Boiles, who 
survived him, and of whom he had three children. He was 
converted in the old Baptist Church soon after his first mar- 
riage, and commenced preaching in the same church about 
1822. He joined the Christian Church about 1829, through 
the influence of Elder Nathan Worley, and joined the Miami 
Conference. He labored extensively through the bounds of 
that conference, though mostly in Greene County. He died 
December 26, 1855, aged seventy-one years. He received but 



264 OWENS— PALMER. 

little for preaching, and in early life, was opposed to the pay 
system. He acquired a large property, though he devoted 
one-third of his time to his pastoral duties. His knowledge 
was quite limited when he began his ministerial work, but, by 
diligence, he became well informed in the Scriptures. He at- 
tended the school of Mr. Steele, in Xenia, three miles away, 
when he had the care of a church, a family, and a farm. 

Benjamin Page at one time had charge of the church at 
Calais, Vt. He died many years ago. 

George Palcher was a resident of Maine. He died at 
Saco about 1834. 

THE PALMERS. Bennet Palmer was converted at 
Calais, Vt. , in 1823, and commenced preaching in 1829. He 
was in Washington, N. H., in 1859, and at this time he fa- 
vored the doctrine of the final restoration of the wicked, but in 
a year or more he returned fully to the doctrine of the Chris- 
tians on that subject. In 1840, he was elected to the New 
Hampshire Legislature from Marlow, and the next year found 
him in Springfield, the same state, where he remained until 
1846, when he moved back to Calais, Vt., where he held the 
pastorate of the church until death, about 1850 or '51. 

Elder Palmer was a tall, fine-looking man, a ready speaker, 
possessing fine talents, and always considered one of the first- 
class ministers of the Vermont Conference, 

Ezekiel Palmer was converted and began to preach among 
the United Baptists ; but about 1824, he united with the 
Christians, and began to labor earnestly in the central part of 
Ohio. In 1826, he moved to Steubenville, where he was very 
successful ; fifty or more were converted in a short time, and 
a strong church was soon organized there. He traveled with 
Elder Long for the first three years after uniting with the 
Christians. After his removal to Steubenville, he and Elder 
Secrist were co-laborers together for some time. While in this 
place, he began the study of medicine, and practiced this pro- 
fession ever after, preaching when opportunity offered. After 
finishing the study of medicine at Steubenville, he moved to 
Licking County, where he died very suddenly of apoplexy. 

The Elder's talents were of a high order, and during the 
early part of his ministry, he devoted all his time and energy 
to the work. 



PALMER— PARKS. 265 

H. D. Palmer, while a young man, was a co-worker in the 
ministry with Elder Kinkade and others. His labors were 
greatly blessed, and good results followed. He lived in Ken- 
tucky for some time, working energetically through the south 
era part of the state. He removed to Illinois, where he re- 
mained until his death. 

AVilber Palmer. (1792 — 1877.) — This brother was a 
member of the Erie Conference for many years. His home, in 
the latter part of his life, was in Sherman, Chautauqua 
County, N. Y. He was born in 1792, and died in Sherman, 
N. Y., January 1, 1877. His preaching talent was not great, 
but his goodness and zeal in the cause, enabled him to fill a 
useful position in the master's service. 

THE PARKERS. Levi Parker. (1791— 1827.)— Levi 
was a native of Kentucky, in which state he died May 28 r 

1827. 

Lyndon Parker. (1802— 1840.)— This Elder was con- 
verted when very young, and was baptized by Elder James Bur- 
lingame in Foster, R. I., where he was born in 1802. He soon 
moved to Cortland County, 1ST. Y., where he began to preach 
in 1829, in the midst of a great reformation, both in that place 
and adjoining counties. During this time, he vvas not con- 
nected with any church as there was none of his early choice 
near him, but in 1831, he assisted Elders Ambrose Burling- 
game, and David and Ebenezer Wade in organizing a Chris- 
tian Church in Lapeer, Cortland County, N. Y., of which he 
became a member. In the same year, also, he was married to 
Miss Anna Sexton. From this time forward, all of his ener- 
gies were devoted to the work. He joined the Central New 
York Conference in 1833, but was not regularly ordained till 
1837. He was a zealous, successful worker and an active 
member until his death, July 5, 1840. 

Silas Parks. (1806— 1857.)— This Elder was born in But- 
ler County, O., in 1806, but was raised in Preble County, where 
he was married in 1828 to Miss Sarah Frame. He was con- 
verted, and joined the Freewill Baptist Church, but stifling his 
conviction, that it was his duty to preach, he lost all his inter- 
est. He moved to Grant County, Ind., where he was re-con- 
verted under the labors of Elder Hallet Barber, soon after 
17 



2QQ PARKS— PEA VY. 

began to preach , and was ordained in the Bluffton Indiana Con- 
ference. He continued an active member of this body until 
bis death, October 27, 1857. 

Steven Parnell, (1820 — 1844.) — Steven was called 
away in the commencement of what he had hoped would be 
his life work, and when there seemed to be so much usefulness 
in store for him. He was converted in 1842, and commenced 
preaching at once in Parnell, Laporte County, Ind. He was 
married in May, and joined the Laporte Indiana Conference 
June, 1844, and was accidently killed just ten days after, June 
18, 1844. 

THE PEAVYS. Edward Peavy. (1788— 1856.)— This 
preacher was an elder brother of the following, although his 
junior in the ministry. He was born in Farmington, N. H., 
February 13, 1788, was married twice, the first time in 1814, 
and the next time in 1834. This latter union continued until 
his death, in Exeter, N. H., June 22, 1856, at the age of sixty- 
•eight years. 

He became concerned about his spiritual welfare very early 
in life, and continued under conviction, more or less from the 
age of seven until about the age of twenty-six. He began to 
preach in his native place in 1818, at the age of thirty, and 
was ordained four years later in the State of New York. He 
was a man of great zeal for the work, and faith in its ultimate 
success, and like many of the New England ministers of his 
time, was influenced to a great extent by the impressions made 
upon his mind, as he felt, by the spirit of God. His sole ob- 
ject in life was the salvation of sinners, and while in the active 
work of revival or reformation he was happy, but when away 
from the excitement and influence of the meeting, he was often 
miserable. He began his ministerial career at home and la- 
bored there for some time, but from 1818 to 1823, the greater 
part of his time was spent in New York, three hundred miles 
from his family. He often spent from six to nine months in a 
continued revival, preaching as often as once, and sometimes 
twice, a day during the whole time. One of these long and 
glorious revivals was held in Laurence, Otsego County, N. Y., 
and the other in Dutchess County, both resulting in the 
strengthening of the churches in the surrounding country, by 
the addition of great numbers. While on his way to New 
York at one time, he met a young woman, and immediately 



PEAVY. 267 

became impressed that it was his duty to ask her if she loved 
Christ. He did this, and on her returning an answer in the 
negative, he rode on and nothing was said by either party, but 
a year later, as he was passing through the same section of 
country, he heard of a great revival going on in the neighbor- 
hood. He visited the place and found that it had been started 
by this woman to whom he had spoken in reference to her love 
for Christ, and that she had been converted and was now earn- 
estly at work for the salvation of others. He wrote a loug and 
very interesting autobiograpy, giving a detatched account of 
his work for many years. Had it been published at the time, 
it would have thrown a great light on the work in his field of 
labor, in New Hampshire and New York. 

John L. Peavy. (1793—1829.) — Few men have stood 
higher in the estimation of the brotherhood than Elder Peavy. 
He was the son of Captain Anthony Peavy, was born in Farm- 
ington, N. H., in 1793, was converted when quite young, and 
soon uniting with the Christian Church, commenced preaching 
and was ordained, March 28, 1816. In the same year, in 
company with Elder Shaw, he left New England and went to 
New York, where he remained, laboring constantly, imtil his 
death, nearly thirteen years later, and his labors were blessed 
in the conversion of hundreds of souls. When he began to 
labor in the eastern part of New York, he was not only young 
in the ministry, but young in years, and full of enthusiasm for 
his chosen calling. No weather was too disagreeable, no op- 
position too strong, but that he was always at his post, and no 
matter what the call of duty was, he was ready to obey. His 
family were all interested in the religious work. His father 
and mother were active members of the Christian Church in 
New Hampshire. His brother Edward was a minister of some 
prominence in the same church. One of his sisters had mar- 
ried Elder Joseph Badger, and another, who was herself a 
public speaker, was the wife of Elder Frederick Cogswell, all 
active workers m the church. 

He died at Milan, N. Y., June 9, 1829, at the age of thir- 
ty-six years, while in the midst of a great field of labor and 
when the harvest was great, but the laborers few. His death 
was hastened by t^e arduous labor he was called upon to per- 
form ; for in those days, the manner of conducting religious ser- 
vices was more laborious than now, protracted and general 
meetings were held through all seasons of the year, and addi- 



268 PEAVY— PERKINS. 

tions to the church were expected at every meeting. He v as 
a great revivalist, and the people were always ready to hear his 
defense of the new faith, although he was violently opposed by 
the different sects in some parts where he did the most success- 
ful work. 

Benjamin Peckham. (1753 — 1836.) — This brother was 
born in 1753, and was converted, uniting with the Baptists, 
about 1783. He commenced preaching among that people in 
1788, but was pastor of the Christian Church at Tiverton, R. 
L, for thirty-five years. We have no certain account of the 
time when he united with the Christian denomination, but all 
his latter years were spent in that church. He was a man of 
great moral worth, and a good, useful preacher, his greatest 
good being accomplished by his successful pastorate. His most 
prominent characteristic was his desire for peace between all 
men and God. He died where he had lived for so many 
years as a beloved pastor, at Tiverton, R. I., March 13, 1836, 
at the advanced age of eighty-three. 

Orson Pemberton. (1808 — 1876.) — Orson was born in 
Richmond, Ontario County, N. Y., June 16, 1808, and died in 
Tioga County, Penn., February 15, 1876. He became an 
orphan at the age of ten years, and two years later, he moved 
to Tioga Countv, Penn., where he continued the most of his 
long life. He embraced religion and became a minister in the 
Methodist Church, but later in life, he joined the Christians. 
One of his sons became a minister and labored in the West, 
and one of his daughters married Elder Kilbourne. Elder 
Pemberton was a good man, an able preacher, and an excellent 
singer. 

THE PERKINS. Joshua Perkins. ( 1842.)— 

This minister was a native of Sterling, Conn., and was ordained 
in that place, June 3, 1816, by a conference of Elders, con- 
sisting of Mark Fernald, Ward Lock, Asa Foster, Levi Hath- 
away, Joseph Badger, and others. Elder N. Burlingame was- 
ordained also at the same time. He died in his native place, 
in Juue, 1842. He was not known extensively through the 
denomination, his labors being confined chiefly to his native- 
place, where he was well respected, both for his consistent life 
and his successful ministry. 

Ransom Perkins was an uncle of the preceding, and was 
also a native of Sterling, Conn., where he spent a useful lite. 



PERKINS— PETRO. 269 

and finally died in the triumph of a living faith. He was or- 
dained at Coventry, R. I., in 1813, by Elders Hicks, Smith, 
Hathaway, Colby, and Farnum. 

William Perry. (1811—1876.) — William was born in 
Schenectady, N. Y., March 24, 1811, commenced preaching in 
1846, was baptized by Elder Seldon in Alleghany County, N. 
Y. , and ordained soon after. He moved to Michigan and was 
pastor of Vergenes and other churches in that state. He was 
a good preacher and a very conscientious man. He died at 
Lowell, Mich., June 8, 1876. 

Simon Petterson. (1796 — 1837.) — This preacher was a 
member of the Northern New York Conference. When 
young, he lost the greater part of his left hand, and in conse- 
quence of an injury / was compelled to have it amputated a 
year previous to his death. He died in Hermon, N. Y., July 
20, 1837, at the age of forty-one years, from the effect of a 
cancer in the hand. He had never devoted his whole time to 
the ministry but had been the means of strengthening many 
churches by revivals, in which he was very successful. 

THE PETTEYS. Hiram Petteys. (1805— 1864.)— Hi- 
ram was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., in 1805, was 
converted, united with the Christian Church in 1840, commen- 
ced preaching soon after, and was ordained at Camden, N. Y., 
in 1843. He moved to Wisconsin, where he labored for some 
time, and then to Illinois. He died at Anna wan, Henry 
County, 111., August 2, 1864, in the fifty-ninth year of his age. 

John T. Petteys was raised in Chatham County, N. C. 
He labored in that and surrounding counties for some years, 
with good results. He moved to the State of Mississippi, 
where he died after a faithful ministerial work. He is said to 
have been a devoted man. 

Seneca Petteys. (1806 — 1845.)— Seneca was born in 
1806, commenced preaching when about thirty years of age, 
and was ordained about three years later. He continued a 
faithful and devoted minister in the cause till his death, which 
occurred at Corunna, Shiawasse County, Mich., in the thirty- 
ninth year of his age. 

William Petro. (1826 — 1863.) — Our present subject 
was an earnest and devoted minister of the gospel, and al- 



270 PETRO— PHILLIPS. 

though his ministerial career was short and full of obstacles — 
such as limited education, poverty, and a large family, — yet 
the course was well run and the results are lasting, great num- 
bers dating their conversions to his earnest appeals. He com- 
menced his ministry in the Western Indiana Conference about 
1856, at the age of thirty, and was ordained September 24, 
1859. His appointments were filled until about a week before 
his death. He died near Attica, Ind., February 17, 1863. 

Isaac Pettingill was a member of the Christian Brethren 
Church, but united with the Christians in Danville, Vt., where 
he spent most of his life, when that body became a part of the 
Christian Church. He long refused to preach, feeling that his 
talent was too feeble ; but he was led to the calling of the min- 
istry by a dream ; i. e. , He was told to water an orchard with 
a small cup, but after expressing his doubts as to whether he 
would be able to do so, he commenced, and soon watered a 
large orchard without refilling his cup. This he felt was an 
intimation from the divine spirit that he was to preach, and 
he soon after began the work of the ministry. He was a flu- 
ent and ready speaker, and would have made a successful min- 
ister but he was a poor financier, and was always hampered 
with his great poverty. 

Gideon Phebus. (1817 — 1867.) — Gideon was born in 
1817, and was converted at Williamsport, O., in 1835. Com- 
mencing his ministerial career soon after, he spent several 
years in earnest and laborious work. During this time, he was 
married twice. In 1849, he lost his health, and was compelled 
to give up his calling. He spent the last years of his life in 
Jackson County, where he died May 24, 1867. 

Ephraim Philbrick. ( — 1863.) — This Elder speut 

the greater part of his ministerial life in or about Rye, N. H. r 
where he died in 1863. From Rye, he w T rote many letters to 
the early papers. His writings were of a very practical na- 
ture, treating of the current subjects of the day, and expressed 
in language that is plain, familiar, and definite. From some 
of these letters, we find that he was converted in 1810, lived 
many years in Rye, and was ordained in 1826. 

THE PHILLIPS. Ira Phillips was a New England 
minister. He was present and assisted at the ordination of 
Benjamin Taylor in 1811. 



PHILLIPS. 271 

John Phillips, sr. (1811 — 1868.) — This Elder was born 
at Broadalbin, Fulton County, N. Y., September 13, 1811, of 
humble parentage. He died near Merom, Ind., September 
18, 1868, aged fifty-seven years. The following is a synopsis 
of the various changes and removals of his life : 

In 1826, he became an apprentice to the carpenter trade. 
In 1827, he was converted, and in 1880, joiued the Christian 
Church at Union Mills, N. Y. In 1832, he entered the Kings- 
borough Academy, where he studied hard, liviugan abstemious 
life for the want of means, having begun to preach about the 
time he entered the school. He continued his connection with 
this school about three years. In 1835, he went to Mason, ISL 
H., where he preached for some time, and the fall of the same 
year, he settled as pastor in Westport, Mass. He continued 
in the above place until 1837, and during the time, was united 
in marriage with Miss GifFord of that place, a young lady of 
excellent character and of good family. In the latter year, 
also, he moved to Ohio and settled with the Pisgah Church, in 
Brown County. After laboring in the southern part of Ohio 
two or three years, he returned to New England. At this 
time, he settled at Russells Mdls, Mass., and then, in 1844, 
moved to Ohio the second time. His first labors in Ohio were 
as before, in Brown and Clermont counties, but in 1845, he 
began his labors in Warren and Hamilton counties. In 1848 r 
he moved his family to Warren County, near Lebanon, the 
county seat. He continued in this place until 1861 , then moved 
to Sullivan County, Ind., in the vicinity of Merom, the loca- 
tion of Union Christian College. During his stay in Lebanon, 
he served as pastor of the churches of Bethany, Fellowship, Red 
Lion, Gentown, in Warren, Sycamore, in Hamilton, and Mi- 
amisville, in Clermont County. During the same time, also,, 
he served as agent for Antioch College. After his removal to 
Indiana in 1861, for some years, he did not labor much in the 
ministry, owing to the care of a large farm, the war times, and 
his own poor health. A few years before his death, he re- 
newed his labors again, and was quite as successful as before. 
His death was caused by falling from a horse, close to his own 
house, bursting the skull slightly, and, perhaps, causing internal 
injuries, from which he died in a few hours. 

Such is an outline of the external life of the noted John 
Phillips. We now proceed to offer a few thoughts on the in- 
ternal man as seen in his work. 

As stated above, Elder Phillips was the child of poverty and 



272 PHILLIPS. 

toil, hence, in the commencement oi his active career, being 
ambitious for knowledge, he had to endure great hardships to 
obtain it. Elder J. O. Wait, his school-mate and fellow 
church-member, speaking of this time, says : "I have known 
him to board himself on smoked herring and crackers for 
weeks. He knew what hard fare and scanty wardrobe were." 
From this rough fare, in the beginning of life's labor, we trace 
much of the rough side of the Elder's life. In his religious and 
emotional element, he was sound. When converted in his six- 
teenth year, he was converted all over. There was no half- 
way work about it. In his darkest moments, it is not proba- 
ble that he ever doubted the genuineness of religion, or his 
own call to the ministry. The whole man was filled with such 
convictions, and as such, when he addressed his congregations, 
he addressed them as one having authority from above. 

Another prominent feature in the Elder's life is apparent 
in all his labors ; viz., his wonderful imagination, together 
with his readiness of mind to express himself in exaggerated 
fig ures. This faculty of his mind was sometimes so strongly 
expressed that it seemed to border on blasphemy or fanaticism. 
At one time, at Fincastle, Brown County, O., when in the 
midst of a very able sermon on "Benevolence," wishing to show 
his congregation that this was a divine attribute, with a pecu- 
liar look, such as he alone could give, he said : "Talk of be- 
nevolence ! why this bump on the head of God Almighty, is 
larger than ten thousand mountains." The expression was so 
odd, so sudden and unexpected, that it thrilled his audience 
with a peculiar feeling. 

Many blamed Elder Phillips for the glowing pictures of An- 
tioch College, and the wonderful profit that would accrue to 
those who would be so fortunate as to own a share of stock in 
the Institution. His queer phrases, in those days of excite- 
ment, will never he forgotten- — such as "The great Antioch 
telescope will be placed on such a high tower, that we can see 
Lake Erie, and the people in the streets of New Orleans, La." 
And also, that this Institution was to "beat the whole world 
and the Islands of the sea beside." No other man could use 
such a phrase without being counted a fanatic, but to John 
Phillips there was nothing unnatural in the expression, and 
yet in his common conversation, he was as logical as other men. 
These traits were doubtless born with him. His mind was of 
that peculiar type. 

In his agency of Antioch College, he did a work at which all 



PHILLIPS. 273 

wondered. His descriptive power was so great, and the excite- 
ment he aroused was so high, that many, doubtless, subscribed 
much more than they were able to pay, and when the day of 
reckoning came, blamed the Elder with misrepresentation, 
when, the truth was, both speaker and hearer, for the time, 
were oblivious to every thing but the glory of Antioch that 
was to be. 

The same feature of his mind was manifested more strik- 
ingly in connection with Union Christian College in the small 
village of Merom, Ind. This college was to be located in the 
State of Indiana, in the town that would donate the largest 
sum of money for its location, raised by the people of that com- 
munity, provided other considerations were equal. Many 
large towns were competitors for the institution, and some 
smaller ones ; among the latter was Merom, the smallest of 
them all. But there were choice spirits in that village that 
were determined to have the college, if possible. Among 
these was Dr. J. N". Halstead, who kneAv John Phillips and his 
peculiar adaptability for canvassing in such enterprises. A 
small subscription of fifty dollars was raised to employ the El- 
der for two weeks. At this time, he lived in Lebanon, O. 
He consented to serve, arrived in the village, and delivered a 
lecture on education in general and the advantage of having 
such an institution in their village, in particular. In his first 
lecture, he gave his experience in acquiring education in his 
youth, his hardships, and the advantage it had been to him 
since. The people cried, they shouted, they were charmed. 
From that time to the end of four weeks (he was employed a 
second term of two weeks), there was nothing thought of in 
the village, or for miles around, but education and this new 
institution of learning. A four horse team and a band were 
equipped, and some ten or twelve men, with the Elder as their 
speaker, traveled far and near, almost day and night. Per- 
sons of all ranks and conditions in life subscribed largely ; 
many that had no money subscribed houses, land, horses, cat- 
tle, and labor at a fair stipulated price. At the end of four 
weeks, $37,500 were subscribed, 35,000 of which was vouched 
lor by twelve or thirteen responsible men ; and Merom, 
through John Phillips, obtained the college. 

In a word, the Elder was a peculiar man. His preaching 
was powerful, but not always logical. There was something 
in the very appearance of the man that gave him power with 
his congregation. He was large, tall, swarthy, and homely in 



274 PHILLIPS. 

his appearance, and careless in his dress. His voice was pow- 
erful, and his intonations were peculiar to himself. His educa- 
tion, though not extensive or thorough, was yet sufficient to 
make him at home upon almost every subject. His social 
qualities were like himself — various. Sometimes he was a 
very interesting conversationalist and a most pleasant compan- 
ion ; at others he was moody, crusty, and, for hours together, 
would not utter a word. The reasons he assigned for the lat- 
ter trait was, that his mind was so occupied with other thoughts 
that he could not disengage it. 

Such is an imperfect sketch of John Phillips — the poor boy, 
the striving student, the successful pastor, and the powerful 
agent for our institutions of learning. He filled a wide place 
in the church of his choice, sometimes blamed, sometimes 
praised, but died regretted by thousands that knew him inti- 
mately in his life and labors. 

Many anecdotes are related of him. Here is one showing 
his contempt of the practice of sprinkling babies. Being at a 
meeting at Pisgah Church at one time, when a Pedo Baptist 
was about to administer the above rite, the Elder became 
thirsty. There was no well or spring within a considerable 
distance, but on the table there was a basin with water pre- 
pared for the ceremony, The Elder took up the basin and 
drank all its contents. When the time for the christening 
came, and not a drop of water left, the Elder observed, in his 
peculiar way, "In my thirst, I drank your entire Jordan." 

Oliver Phillips. (1799 — 1876.) — This minister was born 
in 1799 and died in 1876. He labored near Wilkesbarre, Penn. 
He was a good, plain man and did a good service in his day. 

William H. Phillips. (1810— 1875. )— William was 
born in Fayette County, Penn., November 27, 1810, moved 
with his parents to Wooster, O., in 1821, and married Miriam 
DeGroot at Fort Wayne, Ind., May 23, 1830. He moved 
to Jamestown, Greene County, O., in 1831, joined the Chris- 
tian Church at that place, and was baptized by Elder Matthew 
Gardner in 1836. August 19, 1841, he was licensed to preach, 
and joined the Deer Creek Conference. In 1843, he was or- 
dained, and the same year, moved to Bloomingsburg, Clinton 
County, O., where he lived on a farm. In September, 1849, 
he moved to Jefferson County, Iowa, where he lived the bal- 
ance of his days. He joined a Conference in Iowa August 18, 



PHILLIPS— PLEW. 275 

1851, organized the Ebenezer Church, near his home, in 1853, 
and joined the Union Conference at its organization, in 1857. 
His field of labor, in Iowa, was in Jefferson, Washington, Van 
Buren, Davis, and surrounding counties. 

He died suddenly, of heart disease, at his home, eight miles 
from Fairfield, Iowa, March 8, 1875. He was a faithful 
Christian, a good preacher, and his labors were greatly blessed 
in the building up of the cause and in the conversion of sinners. 
The Elder had twelve children, three of which died before the 
father. 

THE PIERCES. E. G. Pierce was a member of the 
Miami Reserve Conference, Ind. He died about 1875. 

Wiley T. Pierce. — This young preacher lived for many 
years at Centreville, Clinton County, O. He commenced his 
labors in the ministry as early as 1852, but was engaged in 
the mercantile business and devoted but a small portion of his 
time to preaching. He was ordained in the Deer Creek Con- 
ference in 1861, and died in Bentonville, Adams County, 0. y 
about 1865. 

Noah Piper. — This brother filled a wide sphere in the 
Christian Church in New England for many years. He was 
what is called an old-fashioued preacher, wielded a sharp pen,, 
and wrote much for our own papers. He had a great ab- 
horrence to applying the title Reverend to ministers of the 
gospel, considering that title as exclusively belonging to the 
Deity. He united with the Christian Church in its early days, 
about 1809, and, as he says in one of his letters, when he 
took that step, he "renounced all human creeds and all inven- 
tions of men." He continued that advocacy through a long 
and active life. He lived for many years at Stratham, N. H.. 
and died not far from 1865. 

Abraham Plew. (1813 — 1875.) — Elder Plew was born 
in Ohio, June 3, 1813, and died October 8, 1875, near Parsons, 
Kan. He moved to Indiana, joined the Christians in 1830, 
and was ordained in 1855, by Elders Quillen and Bannon, 
by order of the Western Conference. He moved to Kansas, 
assisted in the organization of the South-eastern Conference in 
that state, and labored faithfully until death. He left a wife 
and seven children, with many friends, to mourn his departure. 



276 PLUMMER. 

THE PLUMMERS. Frederick Plummer. (1785— 
1854.) — In many respects, Elder Plummer was one of our most 
talented ministers. Having started out in the ministerial life 
when a young man, in a new denomination, thought by most 
people to be heretical, meeting with opposition wherever he la- 
bored ; being a natural orator, gifted with a comely appear- 
ance and a mild and livelv disposition, he soon became, not 
only a noted preacher, but a leader, in many places, of the peo- 
ple he so ably represented. 

He was born in Haverhill, Mass., not far from 1785. His 
father, at one time, was the only man in town that would re- 
ceive Elder Elias Smith, and other Christian ministers, to his 
house. In January, 1805, he was baptized in the Merrimac 
River, and at once commenced his labors in the ministry. In 
1807, he left his home as a traveling minister, never to return 
except on occasional visits. His first public labors were in the 
8tate of Massachusetts, in the neighborhood of Dartmouth. In 
this, and neighboring towns, he met the venerable Elder Dan- 
iel Hix, and others, and a great many were converted under 
their joint labors. The Elder, though ayouug man, not much 
over twenty years of age, took a high position at once as an 
able minister of the New Testament. 

In 1810, he went to Woodstock, Vt. , where he baptized 
five hundred converts in a short time. In this revival, the 
Christian cause received an impetus in that meeting, which has 
not died out to this day. Many able ministers and leading 
members were converted, during his labors at that time. There 
is an anecdote connected with the above meeting that is often 
repeated by our Vermont brethren. It shows vividly the 
character of young Plummer in those early times. Being at a 
tavern in Hartland, a neighboring town, the conversation soon 
was started about the wonderful meeting at Woodstock. The 
landlady expressed herself freely of the heresy and bewitchery 
of the strange man who was deluding the people. After awhile, 
when alone in the room, the Elder started up one of his favor- 
ite hymns, being a beautiful singer, and the tune being new, 
the landlady listened until he was through, then starting into 
the room excitedly, she asked, "Who are you? Are you the 
new preacher at Woodstock?" The next day the landlady 
was at the meeting in that town, and was converted, with sev- 
eral other members of her family. 

In 1815, he went to Philadelphia, Penn., where his earnest- 
ness and eloquence drew crowds of people together, and many 



PLUMMER. . 277 

were converted under his ministry. As he, at that time, did 
not contemplate the organization of a Christian Church, a fine 
Baptist Church was organized from the converts of these meet- 
ings. From 1817 to 1843, his labors were confined to the 
city of Philadelphia aud the surrounding country. Many 
churches were organized by him during these years, and gen- 
erally, he supplied them as pastor. But one thing he neg-* 
lected, with all his talents — to teach the churches of his charge 
to become self-supporting in financial matters. Having started 
in the ministry in the early days of the denomination, his great 
object was the conversion of sinners, regardless of the future 
influence of the church as a nursing mother to the converts. 
Many strong churches in the field of his labor did as they chose 
in the support of the ministry. If they paid anything, it was 
all right, and if not, it was all right — with him. The result of 
this policy was, that when Plummer ceased his labors many 
of the churches ceased to exist. 

He married Catharine Burkloe, a wealthy lady, and a true 
helpmeet for her husband in his work. His first wife died, and 
he was married again, to a lady of excellent character, who sur- 
vived him at his death. In his family relation, he was affable 
and kind, and was equally fortunate in the selection of his com- 
panions. He was a man of great talent, whether as a preacher, 
a lecturer, or a debater. In early life, he was a fine singer. 
He Avas easy in his manners, having a kind word for all. In 
his public addresses, he seemed always ready, speaking as if it 
were no effort for him. 

He died at Assonett, Mass., May 6, 1854, of hemorrhage of 
the bowels, not far from sixty-nine years of age. His death- 
was most triumphant. Being in his right mind to the last, he- 
called each one of his family by name, and gave each a part- 
ing word of advice, appropriate to their age and condition in 
life. Beside his ministerial labors, he was the author of sev- 
eral publications of ability. In every department of life, he 
showed a strong mind and a good heart. 

Henry Plummer. (1794 — 1869.) — This was a brother of 
the preceding, and, like nis brother, was born and brought up 
in Haverhill, Mass., but unlike his brother, he continued in 
the same town through life. In his youth, he learned the 
baker's trade, which he followed for many years, as in those 
days, ministers of the Christian Church generally followed 
some other occupation for a living. He was born in 1794, was 



278 PLUMMER— POFF. 

converted in 1810, was baptized by Elder Douglas Farnum, 
August 2, 1826, and was ordained at Haverhill, by Moses 
How, Mark Fernald, and others. He soon after became the 
pastor of the church at the above place, where he continued in 
the same relation the most of his life. He was a large man, 
candid and substantial, but had not the attraction of his brother 
Frederick, as a speaker. In his intercourse with others, he 
was social and friendly — in all, a man well suited to the office 
<of a pastor. 

In 1842, he became a firm advocate of the doctrine of the 
.speedy coming ol Christ, and held the same views to the last, 
though he never joined the Advent Church. He died in his 
native town, Haverhill, falling at his own door, of heart disease, 
January 27, 1869, aged seventy-five years. 

John Plummer. (1786 — 1846.) — The following, in sub- 
stance, is from the pen of Elder Levi Purviance, who was an 
intimate acquaintance of our subject : He was born in North 
Carolina, about 1786, moved to Ohio in 1809, and was married 
to Miss Hawey, in 1811, who proved to be a true helpmeet to 
her husband. He professed religion after his marriage, and 
moved to Union County, Ind., where he cleared a farm. In 
1815, he began to preach, and soon became a useful minister. 
Having lived in Ohio, and being then a leader in the sports of 
the youth there, he felt inclined to visit the same place as a 
minister, and, if possible, lead them to Christ. In this he was 
successful beyond his expectation. He also organized the 
church at Hannah's Creek, Union County, Ind., and labored 
for it for many years. He was ordained by Elder David Pur- 
viance and others. 

About 1840, he moved to Kosciusko County, Ind., where he 
labored faithfully in building up the Christian cause in that 
new country. By this time, as he was still growing in ability, 
he had become a powerful preacher and took a leading position 
in the Eel River Conference. While his manner of delivery 
was not so attractive as some, his good, sound sense and ex- 
emplary deportment gained him friends and adherents every 
where he labored. He was struck with death in the middle 
of his sermon, and died in twelve hours after, in September, 
1846. 

John Poff. (1818 — 1878.) — John was born in Clinton 
€ounty, O., March 12, 1818, In 1828, he moved with his 



POFF— POTTER. 279 

parents to Delaware County, Ind., was married to Eliza Mil- 
ler in 1838, and some time after, moved to Wells County. In 
1839, he professed religion, moved to Howard County, was or- 
dained in 1850, joined the Miami Reserve Conference in 1851, 
and continued in that body until 1865, when he moved to 
Wisconsin. In 1860, he helped to organize the Richland Un- 
ion Christian Conference. He died July 6, 1878. He had 
eleven children, eight of whom, with his wife, survived him. 

THE POTTERS. Donoughson Potter was oue of the 

most prominent ministers in the denomination in his day, and a 
great orator. He died in his prime. 

James Potter. (1782— 1872.)— The subject of our 
present sketch was born in Orange County, X. Y., and was 
brought up in New York City, where he learned a trade. 
Early in life, he joined the Methodist Church, and became a 
minister in that connection. But not agreeing with the church 
in doctrinal views, he was tried for heresy and disowned. As 
he found that his views harmonized with those of the Chris- 
tians, he joined that body in 1819, and continued a faithful 
member and minister among them till his death. He was a 
member of the New York Central Conference. He died at 
Jerusalem, N. Y., February 2, 1872, of paralysis, at the age 
of ninety years. 

. Reuben Potter was born and raised in Rhode Island, was 
converted in his youth, and soon after, began to preach. He 
was an accomplished young man, of good education, a fine 
writer, and an able and pleasant speaker. His prospect for 
future usefulness was bright. While thus growing in useful- 
ness, and, to all appearances, one of the most exemplary of 
men, it was found by his most intimate friends that he began 
to indulge in the use of spiritous liquors. At one time, this 
habit became so notorious that he was tried by his own con- 
ference and was expelled from the ministry. After this, he 
reformed, and in 1823, published the "Gospel Palladium," an 
able periodical, in his own state — Rhode Island. In 1825, he 
paid a visit to the churches in Virginia. His preaching was 
nighly acceptable to the people every where. During this 
visit, he delivered a fine eulogy, on the death of a young min- 
ister — Nelson Millar. This was pronounced, at the time, by 
good judges, to be one of the ablest productions of the kind. 



280 POTTER— PRATT. 

There is no doubt of his great ability, and few doubt his sin- 
cerity of purpose ; but the habit referred to crippled his use- 
fulness. He continued the most of his life fighting against the 
great temptation, sometimes reforming and sometimes falling. 

William Potter was a minister in the State of Kentucky. 
He died there many years ago. 

Henry Pottle. ( 1834.) — Henry began to preach 

about 1804, and was very successful in his ministry. He died 
at Stratham, N. H., January 11, 1834, of heart disease. Ser- 
mon on the occasion by Elijah Shaw. 

Samuel Potts. (1811 — 1877.) — Samuel was born in De- 
cember, 1811, died in Montgomery County, Ind., February 
9, 1877, was converted, joined the church in 1837, com- 
menced preaching in 1857, and was ordained in 1860, in the 
Western Indiana Conference. He was a good man, and did a 
good work as a church member ; and his great zeal and firm- 
ness in the work caused the brethren to call for his ordination , 
though late m life. 

Hiram Pratt. (1814— 1856.)— This brother died while 
young. He was born m 1814, was converted about 1832 near 
Lansingville, and was baptized by James Wescott in 1834. In 
1840, he united with the Eastern New York Conference, and 
a year later, was ordained. In 1841, he became pastor of the 
churches at Covington and Smithfield, Tioga County, Penm, 
where he remained thiee years. He went to Houndsdale, 
where, by the assistance of Elder W. Cummings, he organ- 
ized a church, remaining one year. His next field of labor 
was in Fulton County, N. Y., then in South Franklin, Dela- 
ware County, the same state, where he remained some four or 
five years. In 1850, he was married to Miss Marietta Rice, 
of South Valley, and the same year, became pastor of the 
churches at Lansingville and South Franklin, where he con- 
tinued his labors till 1856, in May of which year, he died of 
inflammation of the lungs. 

He was a prompt man and his entire energies were engaged 
in his great work. While on his death bed, he exhorted the 
friends that came to his room, and especially the Elders of the 
church of which he was pastor, to faithfulness. His loss was 
greatly felt by his many friends. 



PRESCOTT— PUCKET. 281 

Jedidiah Prescott. (1784 — 1861.) — The Elder wrote 
an autobiography of his life a short time before his death, 
which was published in a neat volume, by one of his sons, 
from which we glean the following : 

He was born in Raymond, X. H., in 1784, was a son of 
Ebenezer and Phoebe (Eastman) Prescott, who were devoted 
members of the Congregational Church. His father was 
killed by an accident in 1800, which effected the mind of Jedi- 
diah seriously for some time, but finally he lost his seriousness 
until the death of his mother soon after, when it was renewed 
again. From the latter event until 1804, he was very miser- 
able under his conviction. At the latter date, he joined the 
Freewill Baptist Church, and enjoyed a great peace of mind. 
In 1807, he was married to Mary Graves, who was a faithful 
Christian. His impression that it was his duty to preach be- 
gan to trouble him, which he resisted for many years, but 
finally yielded, after being severely afflicted in many ways. 

In January, 1811, he moved his family to Monmouth, in the 
State of Maine, and about 1814, began to preach, and soon 
gathered around him a large number of worshipers. Hitherto 
he had been a member of the Freewill Baptist Church, but co- 
operating with the Methodists, but after forming an acquaint- 
ance with the Christians, he was ordained, November 2, 1817, 
together with Elder Simon Clough, having joined the Chris- 
tian Church prior to this time. Sermon on the occasion by 
Elder Ward Lock. He became a very active and zealous 
worker in the church, and many were converted under his 
preaching. During his early labors in Monmouth, Me. , he 
met with opposition, and was subject to many privations inci- 
dental to a pioneer life. 

His first wife died June 12, 1828. He was married again 
in 1829. His field of labor, for almost fifty years, was in Mon- 
mouth, Me. He had been a professor of religion fifty-seven 
years, and a minister for forty-seven years. He died June 19, 
1861, at the age of seventy-seven years. 

Peossee was a Christian minister who died in 1850, 



at the age of fifty years. 

Zachaelih Pucket. (1806 — 1867.) — This minister was 

born in Xorth Carolinia, in 1806, of Quaker parentage, and 

moved with his parents to Ohio in 1818. He studied law 

and was successful at the bar. He united with the Christian 

18 



282 PUCKET— PURVIANCE. 

Church in Randolph County, Inch, in 1860, and began to 
preach the same year. In 1861, be became a member of the 
Antioch Christian Conference, in the State of Indiana, and la- 
bored faithfully until struck down with paralysis. He died 
April 1, 1867. He had been married twice and had ten chil- 
dren. 

Robert Puncheon. (1778 .)— Of the early life of 

Elder Puncheon, we have no account, but from his own letters 
and that of his friends, we learn that he was born in England, 
in 1778, and was married there to his wife, Elizabeth, in 1800. 
They emigrated from the old country before 1807, for in that 
year he and his wife became members of the Christian Church 
in Philadelphia, at its organization. Elder Puncheon became 
the officiating pastor of the church and was ordained there in 
1808. From this to the year 1844, we have but little account 
of his labor, but at the latter date he was living in Cincinnati, 
O., an active minister in the denomination. His wife died in 
1846, and at the time, he was confined to his room with paral- 
ysis, and had been in that condition for the two years preced- 
ing. It is probable he died soon after that date. 

THE PURVIANCES. David Purviance. (1766— 

1847.) — In some respects, this father of the church stands as 
the father of the denomination in the West. At the time of 
the separation from the Presbyterians in Kentucky, at the 
close of the Cane Ridge revival, he was a licensed minister in 
the Presbyterian Church, and a candidate for ordination. Soon 
after the separation, he was ordained by the Dissenters, and be- 
came one of the six leading men that drew up and signed the Re- 
monstrance and articles of dissent, issued in that day, but he 
alone, of the six, continued in the same unwavering course dur- 
ing a long life. As such, together w r ith his talent, he became 
the standard bearer of the Christians in the West. It is men- 
tioned in the proper places in this work, that McISTemar and 
Dunlevy joined the Shakers, Marshal and Thompson returned 
to the Presbyterians, and some years later, Stone became par- 
tially united with the party of Alexander Campbell, who em- 
braced a different system of theology from that held by the 
Christians at first, leaving Purviance alone, of all its original 
leaders, to guide the new body to the position it now occupies 
among sister denominations. 

Elder David Purviance was the son of Colonel John and 



PURVIANCE. 283 

Jane (Wasson) Purviance, and was born in Iredell County, N. 
C, November 14, 1766. His parents had moved from Penn- 
sylvania in 1764, to the place of his birth. In the boyhood of 
David, his father served in the Revolutionary War, and was 
promoted to the office of a colonel. After the close of the war, 
he moved to Sumner County, Tenn. This was, at that time, 
a wilderness country, full ot hostile Indians, by whom his sec- 
ond son, John, was killed, not far from the house. On account 
of which, and for the protection of the rest of the family, his 
father moved to Bourbon County, Ky.,and in 1800, to Wilson 
County, Tenn. His mother died in 1810, and his father in 
1823, both having left the Presbyterians, and joined the new 
church, at the time of the separation. 

Young David was brought up in the strictest sense, a Pres- 
byterian, and had memorized the larger and smaller catechism 
when very young. At the age of twelve years, he was sent to 
a seminary under the care of Dr. Hall, for the purpose of 
studying the Greek and Latin languages, with a view to the 
ministry of his church. He made a speedy progress in these 
studies, and was afterward engaged in teaching the same 
branches to others. In 1789, he was married to Miss Ireland, 
a lady of Irish parentage, in North Carolina. Two years later, 
he moved, in company with his father's family, to Tennessee, 
and on account of the Indian trouble, mentioned above, he 
moved to Bourbon County, Ky., where he remained until 
1807, when he moved to Preble County, O. During his stay 
in Kentucky, beside his religious labors, he was, for several 
years, a representative from Bourbon County in the State 
Legislature. In this relation, he showed the same good sense 
and ability, as in the other labors of his life, for although an 
unpretentious farmer, he was well informed upon every sub- 
ject and an active worker in the body. In that slave holding 
community, he was conscientiously an anti-slavery man. He 
also represented the farming community of his district and 
gave full satisfaction to the majority of his constituents. He 
had several sharp contests with some of the ]eading members 
of the bar, but he maintained his own ground, to the surprise 
of many. Indeed, his ability as a debater, and the entire con- 
fidence of the people in his honesty, made him more than a 
match to the brilliant men that represented a class legislation 
in the body. Elder Purviance was a very plain looking man , 
and wore such clothing as common country farmers in moderate 
circumstances wore, soon his entrance to the legislature hisfel- 



284 PUKVIANCE. 

low-members considered him as one poorly suited for the position 
he occupied. Mr. Garrard and Purviance were elected to rep- 
resent Bourbon County in the legislature on a certain issue — an 
opposition to the establishment of a court of Oyer and Terminer, 
and other costly measures, bearing hard on the small farmers, 
as to their title in land. The legal profession was in favor, 
the small farmer opposed the measure. John Breckinridge, 
one of the leading lawyers of the day, was the advocate of the 
bill. After a two days' speech by the latter, there was none 
of the farmer party that were willing to answer. At the urgent 
request of his colleague, Mr. Garrard, Elder Purviance under- 
took the difficult task. He rose to his feet slowly, with his 
homespun garments, and his timid, embarrassed looks. The 
house was full, and many strangers had come to hear the 
able speech of the great Breckinridge. All eyes were riveted 
on Purviance, and for awhile he was greatly confused — it was 
his first effort. Soon he warmed up to his subject, and deliv- 
ered one of the ablest speeches of the session, to the astonish- 
ment of himself and all others. The bill was lost by an over- 
whelming majority against it, and Purviance rose at once, from 
one of the most obscure of the country members to a leader 
of the farmer party in the legislature. Having served for 
many years in the legislature as an anti slavery man in a slave- 
holding community, and the issue becoming more and more defi- 
nite, he was defeated upon that issue. From this time, he de- 
voted his entire energy to the cause of religious reformation. 
Little did Elder Purviance and his comrades know where 
they were led during that great awakening about 1800. Their 
first idea was to form a Presbyterian Church upon a more lib- 
eral basis than the one with which they had been connected, 
and hence the Springfield Presbytery was organized. In about 
a year, this body was dissolved by a solemn declaration of the 
six leaders. From this time the Dissenting brethren took the 
position occupied at this time by the Christian Church, and 
Elder Purviance continued an acknowledged leader till death. 
From 1804 to 1807, he did his greatest work in Kentucky. 
He traveled far and near, holding meetings of days, meeting 
the brethren in council in the interest of the infant cause, an- 
swering objections to the new theology, as it was called, ordain- 
ing ministers, organizing churches, and to add to the great la- 
bors mentioned, four of his comrades, whom he considered a& 
leaders in the reformation, deserted their post. Such was the- 
strain on his mind and body during this time, that his health 



PURVIANCE. 285 

became imDaired, from which it never fully recovered, during 
life. 

In 1807, he moved, with his family, to the State of Ohio, 
but not to rest, for beside preaching in various places in the 
new country where he settled, clearing the timber to make a 
farm, he was elected to represent the county in the Ohio Legis- 
lature in 1808, without any solicitation on his part. He served 
one year in the House and two in the Senate. From the pe- 
riod of leaving the legislature, his time was entirely devoted to 
preaching the gospel. At the time of the division between the 
original Christian Church and the Reformation, as it was called, 
under the preaching of Alexander Campbell and others, Da- 
vid Purviance became the leading representative man in the 
former body, as his comrade, Barton W. Stone, took a half- 
way ground. He made long trips, studied hard, and wrote 
many articles on the issues of the day. He was a leading mem- 
ber of the Miami Christian Conference in Ohio, as well as one 
of its first members. He was also a pastor for many years of 
the Shiloh and New Paris churches, in his own neighborhood. 
The attachment that existed between him and Elder B. W. 
Stone continued through life. Although in the latter part of 
their lives they became, in a measure, leaders and representa- 
tive men of two distinct denominations, yet their personal 
friendship never failed. In 1843, Elder Stone paid him a visit 
at his home in Ohio. The latter was then broken down with 
paralysis. Both were old and near their journey's end. They 
met at the meeting house at New Paris, before a large congre- 
gation. They embraced, and on the neck of each other, they 
sobbed, they wept, and continued in tears for some time. Those 
that w 7 ere present spoke of the scene as most affecting. The 
memories of a whole life, of stirring events came up in this 
one hour. The congregation was melted to tears. They 
knew that this would be the last meeting in life. Elder Stone's 
home was in Jacksonville, 111., and Elder Purviance's in New 
Paris, O. The former died the next year, while on a journey 
in the State of Missouri, and the latter, in four years more 
passed away at the home of his son, near the place of greeting. 
H:s wife died in 1835, at the age of seventy-three, and his 
d3ath occurred in August 19, 1847, aged eighty-one years. 

The goodness, honesty, and sincerity of Elder Purviance was 
acknowledged by all. His education was more than ordinary 
for his day, having studied and taught the classic languages 
in early life, together with such scientific and mathematical 



286 PURVIANCE. 

branches as were taught in respectable academies in those, 
early days. To this, also, may be added a stirring, studious 
life, associated with men of culture. As a thinker and speaker, 
he was not the most brilliant, yet he was respectable in both, 
but his great recommendation was his firmness and devotion to 
the cause of truth. His life of over eighty years was an event- 
ful one. Born in the wilds of North Carolina, he continued a 
frontiersman the most of his life, first in his native state, then 
in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio. His earliest recollections 
were of events in the Revolutionary War, where his father per- 
formed a prominent part, and not less exciting to the mind was 
the religious revolution that gave rise to three religious bodies — 
the Cumberland Presbyterians, the Christians, and the Disci- 
ples, and in which he himself was a prominent actor. With 
sadness, but firmness, he saw five of his early comrades leav- 
ing their original positions in the ranks. He served fifteen 
sessions in the Legislature of Kentucky and Ohio. His death 
was as calm as his life had been stirring. Not a cloud ob- 
scured the horizon of Ins closiug day. Many were the notices 
and eulogies given at his death, but he needed them not, for 
his record was on high. 

Levi Purviance. (1790 — 1873. J — Many persons whose 
memoirs are recorded in this volume were intimate personal 
acquaintances and fellow-laborers of the writer, but to none 
did he look up with more veneration and confidence than to 
him whose name heads this article. It is with a peculiar feel- 
ing of sorrow that I pen this short sketch of "Uncle Levi," as 
we familiarly called Elder Purviance. In the fall of 1849, I 
formed the acquaintance of the Elder in the city of Dayton , 
O. Ever since that time, we often met, and I always found 
him a spiritual father and a wise counselor. About ten years 
ago, when I began to gather materials for this volume, I con- 
sulted him, and was encouraged to proceed with the work. 
He promised to render all the assistance he could, observing 
at the same time that he had contemplated such a work him- 
self. During these years, we met several times ; he always 
made wise suggestions and imparted valuable information. 
With the accumulation of labor and the weight of four score 
years pressing upon him, with no hint or murmur of the hard- 
ships of the work performed by him, he wrote long and labori- 
ous letters for this work, without money and without price. 

The above may not be, in the strict sense of the term, a bi- 



PURVIANCE. 287 

ography of Elder Purviance, but it shows the spirit of the man 
more clearly than many sentences of eulogy. Hundreds of 
brethren bear witness to the kindness and self-sacrifice of "Un- 
cle Levi." The following concise account, which is taken from 
the "Eaton Register," was published soon after the Elder's 
death. It is mostly taken from an address delivered by our 
subject at a meeting of the "Old Folks" a short time before his 
death — being taken down by the editor of the above paper at 
the time. 

"Elder Levi Purviance was the oldest son of Elder David 
Purviance. He was born in Iredell County, N. C, Septem- 
ber 7, 1790, and was consequently eighty-two years six months 
and two days old at the time of his death, April 9, 1873. 
When an infant, he was taken by his parents to Wilson 
County, Tenn., where one of his uncles was killed by the In- 
dians while plowing in a field. In consequence of this, and 
other hostile demonstrations of the aborigines, his father and 
mother went on horseback to Bourbon County, Ky., leaving 
the subject of this sketch with his grandfather. After select- 
ing a home, they returned, and shortly thereafter, moved to 
Kentucky, where they remained some fifteen years. During 
this time, the great revival of religion occured at Cane Ridge. 
Elders David Purviance, Barton W. Stone, and others took 
an active part in the revival, dissenting from the Presbyterian 
Church on account of its church government and confession 
of faith. The dissenters assumed the name "Christians," and 
agreed to stand on the Bible as their rule of faith and practice. 
They were a devout body of worshipers, evangelical in their 
faith and practice, and took w T ith them many able ministers 
who were zealous and energetic in their labors. The de- 
ceased cordially espoused the cause, of his father and the other 
dissenters, became a minister early in life, and consistently la- 
bored in the cause to within a few days of his death. 

In the year 1806, the deceased, then a lad of sixteen years, 
came with other pioneers to the White Water Country, and 
commenced clearing laud in the wilderness, for a prospective 
home, one-and-a-half miles west of where New Paris is now lo- 
cated. During the year, he cleared six acres and put it in 
corn. The next year, his father's family moved from Ken- 
tucky, and settled in this small opening in the wilderness, sub- 
sisting almost entirely on the corn and vegetables raised on the 
spot of ground cleared by Levi. 

In the year 1811, the deceased was married to Sophia 



288 PURVIANCE. 

Woods, of Wayne Comity, Ind., with whom he lived happily 
for some nineteen years. He obtained his marriage license 
from George Hunt, then the Clerk of the Circuit Court, who, 
in the absence of county seat and court-house, lived and per- 
formed the duties of his office at his residence on Elk Horn 
Creek, between where Richmond and Liberty, both in Indiana, 
now stand. The deceased was at the first court organized in 
Wayne County, Ind. It was held at a private house. 

In 1812, soon after his marriage, our brother volunteered 
as a soldier, and served in the army at Fort Nisbet, under the 
command of Capt. Silas Fleming. In 1820, he entered the 
ministry, and in 1823, was ordained. Since that time, he 
spent his manhood and declining years in the service of the 
Savior. All this time, except ten years spent in Illinois, was 
spent in Ohio ; five years in Miami County, five in Warren, 
and the remainder in Darke and Preble counties. In his min- 
istry, he was very practical and highly devotional. He past 
through life without spot or blemish, beloved and respected by 
the community. 

The deceased married, for his second wife, Mrs. Eliza 
Adams, of Darke County, O., with whom he lived happily 
for twenty-two years. After her death, in 1865, he married 
Mrs. Elizabeth Cox, of Covington, Miami County, 0., with 
whom he lived in peace and comfort till the time of his death, 
and who survived him." 

The above excellent sketch was written by Brother Morris, 
a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, who 
was well acquainted with Elder Purviance for many years. 
The article also shows in what estimation he was held by other 
denominations. 

In early life, the Elder became the companion of his hon- 
ored father, and for many years, till the death of the latter, 
they lived in the same community, labored in the same churches 
and conferences, and were more like brothers than father and 
son. At the death of his father, "Uncle Levi" was an aged 
man of fifty-five years. In 1849, he had a stroke of paralysis 
or apoplexy, from which he suffered for some time, and many 
thought he could not recover ; but his strong constitution, his 
contented mind, and temperate habits, under the blessing of 
heaven, gave him twenty-four years more of a useful and ac- 
tive life in the cause of Christ. About 1852, when about sixty 
years of age, he moved to Morristown, 111. He labored long 
and faithfully in that bleak prairie country, where he bur- 



PURVIANGE— QUINBY. 289 

led his second wife. After ten years exposure and hard labor, 
he returned to his beloved Ohio, and took charge of some of 
our most important churches ; and although he was well ad- 
vanced in years, he sustained himself well, sometimes preach- 
ing as often as three times a day, when near eighty years old. 
He thus continued in his active pastoral duties until within a 
week or two of his death. ' We all became so used to his old 
age and active labors that we were shocked with surprise when 
we heard of his death, as if he were a man still in the prime 
of life. 

After preaching for some time in Covington and Franklin, 
O., he accepted a call to Eaton, the county seat of Preble 
County, in the same state, and died there April 9, 1873, in 
his eighty-third year, after a few days' illness, so quietly that 
the watchers in the room could not decide the precise moment 
he breathed his last. A sermou was preached on the occas- 
ion by Elder H. Y. Rush, editor of the "Herald of Gospel 
Liberty," Dayton, O., assisted in the service by two or three 
other Christian ministers, as well as ministers of other churches. 

Elder Purviance was not only a pious, good man and a 
sound, practical preacher, but an able and easy writer as well. 
Beside many articles written by him for the denominational 
and other periodicals, he published a neat volume of the biog- 
raphy of his father and nine other Christian ministers, together 
with a graphic history of the great revival in Kentucky. 

As a man, he was mild, sociable, and full of kindness. As 
a minister, while he w r as firm in his convictions of truth, he 
was so evangelical and practical in his sermons that different 
denominations claimed him as theirs ; and well they might, if 
they were Christians, for he claimed all the disciples of Christ 
as brothers and sisters. 

Putnam. — All we know of this brother is, that 



about the beginning of the present century he was a prominent 
minister among the Christians of Vermont. 

Daniel Quinby. — This brother was a minister in the State 
of Vermont. For many years, he was a good and faithful 
preacher, but about 1821, he was carried away into a short- 
lived fanaticism, originated by a woman called Betsy Niles, 
and hence called the '-Niles Fanaticism." He returned in a 
short time, and was subsequently a faithful man ; but for the 
want of confidence on the part of his co-laborers, he did not 
accomplish much after that time. 



290 RABB— RAMSEY. 

Bowman Rabb. (1812 — 1872.) — This minister was born 
in Knox County, O., in 1812, his parents, who were members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having moved from Vir- 
ginia sometime previous. His father was a prominent man in 
that denomination, but joined the Christian Church when Bow- 
man was young. The son was converted, and joined the Chris- 
tian Church at Hanger school-house, in Knox County, under 
the labors of Elders Harry Ashley and Samuel B. Marvin, 
about 1830. Being a devoted young man, he soon became an 
active lay member. In 1838, he was married to Miss Sarah 
Squires, began his labors in the ministry in 1840, and was or- 
dained soon after. His labors in Ohio were mostly confined to 
Licking, Knox, Coshocton, and Columbiana counties. Though 
his education was limited, and though he labored with his 
hands to supply a part of his living, yet his godly life and fer- 
vent zeal made him useful as a pastor and preacher. 

In the latter part of his life, he moved to the State of Illin- 
ois, where he continued his labors very faithfully, and was use- 
ful to the churches and conferences. He died in the latter 
state May 28, 1872, aged sixty years. 

Benjamin Rainey. — About the year 1800, this brother was 
one of the leading ministers m the Christian Church in the 
South. He was a companion of Elder James O'Kelly, from 
the time of the separation from the Methodist Church, in 
1793. He was an able exponent of the Christian doctrine. 
He published several pamphlets, showing the peculiar views 
held by the Christians. One of these pamphlets was published 
in 1809, in connection with Elder Stringer. He was consid- 
ered by his cotemporaries an able and good man, a safe coun- 
selor, and reliable in all his intercourse. Although spoken of 
frequently by our early writers, I have not been able to find 
his age or the time of his death. 

William Ramsey. (1786 — 1852.) — This brother was born 
in Vincennes, Ind., in 1786, in the midst of an Indian War, 
his parents having moved to that place from the State of 
Pennsylvania a short time before. When William w T as young, 
his father moved to White River, where the boy was raised 
among the rough white settlers and Indians that remained in 
that part of the country. His physical powders were well de- 
veloped but his educational advantages were few ; and as for 
religious privileges, he had heard but two or three sermons 



RAMSEY— RAND. 291 

when twenty-one years old. In 1809, he was married to Miss 
Laura Winship, with whom he lived happily for many years, 
and raised a large family of children. In 1810, he was con- 
verted in the Methodist Church, and received a license to 
preach in that body. His preaching was powerful and many 
were converted under his labors. 

In 1820, he moved to the State of Illinois, where he met 
Elder William Kinkade and other Christian Ministers, through 
whose preaching he changed his views of some church doc- 
trines, and joined the Christian Church, in which connection 
he continued till death. He was a very zealous, self-sacrific- 
ing Christian, and was very useful as a preacher. He was, 
for a long while, pastor of the Spring Hill Christian Church. 
His talent as a preacher was of the revival hind, in which he 
was very successful. He died in Illinois, January 8, 1852, 
aged sixty-six years. 

THE RANDS. Johx Rand. (1781— 1855.)— Brother 
Rand was born in Lunenburg, Mass., in 1781, and moved to 
Beverly, with the family, when young. In 1795, when four- 
teen years old, he went to sea. His parents died about this 
time. He served an apprenticeship of seven years in Boston, 
Mass., at the carriage-making business. In 1800, he was con- 
verted, and joined the Baptist Church, under the care of Dr. 
Stillman, in the above city. In 1809, he was married to Miss 
Betsy Babcock, of whom he had thirteen children. 

Elders Jones and Smith held meetings in Boston in 1803, 
and the next year, Elder Rand joined the new church, and 
soon began to preach. In 1806, he was ordained, in Boston, 
by Elders Jones, Smith, and Boody. After itinerating for a 
while, he settled with the church at Exeter, where he contin- 
ued his labors for eight years. In 1814, he moved to Wood- 
stock, Vt. , where, in connection with Elder Jasper Hazen, he 
assisted in the publication of a hymn-book, which met an ex- 
tensive circulation, and, for a while, came into general use in 
the denomination. After this, he moved to, and labored in, 
Danville and Bradford, the same state. In 1822, he moved 
to Milton, Mass., where he remained the rest of his life. From 
this time till within a few years of his death, he partially re- 
tired from active labors in the ministry, but was steadfast in 
the faith and useful as a member to the end. 

In 1837, his wife died. It was a great shock to the hus- 
band, as she had been a faithful companion to him through 



292 RAND. 

many years, and the family had been one of the most happy. 
In 1853, he received a stroke of paralysis. He recovered, in 
a measure, but died May 31, 1855. 

Samuel Rand. (1784— 1830.)— In his day, Elder Rand 
was one of the most useful ministers in the Christian Church, 
and at his death, there was a general mourning throughout the 
denomination. He was born in Chester, N. H., September 
17, 1784, joined the Christian Church in Guilford, in the same 
state, in 1805, and began to preach in North Carolina in 1807. 
He soon extended his labors to Portsmouth and other places 
in New Hampshire, where many were converted under his 
preaching. In 1809, he was ordained in Portsmouth, preaching 
his own ordination sermon from I. Corinthians 9:16, ' fc Woe is 
me if I preach not the gospel." After traveling a few months 
in different places, in 1810, he settled as pastor with the church 
at Portland, Me., where he continued the remainder of his life, 
for the term of twenty years. He was married in 1812, to 
Miss Lefever, of Salem, Mass., a ladv of exemplary life, and a 
devoted Christian, of whom he had four children. He died in 
Portland, of a fever, September 10, 1830, aged forty-six years. 
Elder Rand was a natural orator, as well as a successful pas- 
tor. While his education was limited, and his habits were not 
of the most studious kind, yet such was his readiness as a 
speaker, that he sustained himself in the city of Portland for 
twenty years, with no stipulated salary from the church, and 
lived well, beside having a large congregation to attend on his 
ministry. By his habits as a pastor of visiting his entire con- 
gregation, he exerted a great influence on the whole parish, 
and by this, also, he became acquainted with the habits of his 
people. From the knowledge, attention, and study of the 
Bible, he adapted his sermons to the wants of his people. His 
theme during life was practical goodness. He dealt but 
little in speculative doctrines, having settled in his mind that 
the Word of God was sufficient as a guide to the believer, he 
preached it to his congregation, and the result was most glori- 
ous. He continued through life to maintain the most friendly 
relation with ministers of other denominations. In prayer, 
Elder Rancl was particularly gifted. This power consisted in 
the unshaken faith he cherished that God would answer, and 
the weaving in of the surrounding circumstances in his peti- 
tions to the great and loving Father. It is said that he never 
failed to carry his congregations with him in his petitions, till 



RAND— REA. 293 

they all felt as poor suppliants at the throne of mercy where 
there was abundance for all. 

Few ministers, as local as he, received as many members into 
the church. In his own church in Portland, he witnessed three 
extensive revivals. In 1811, he baptized about sixty, and in 
1814, about the same number, and again in 1826, 160 w 7 ere 
baptized by him. In Salem, Mass., and other places, he bap- 
tized many converts at different times. His death, in the prime 
of life, was considered as a public calamity in the denomina-. 
tion, where he was so highly valued. 

THE RAWLS. David Rawls lived in the South, and 
was an able and excellent minister, laboring in Virginia and 
North Carolina, 

Uriah Rawls was a Christian minister who lived the 
most of his life at Holy Neck, Nansemond County, Va. He 
was converted at the Holy Neck Christian Church, and began 
to preach there about 1825. Soon after, he became the pastor 
of the church, which then had but eight members. He con- 
tinued his pastoral relation with it for many years. In 1846, 
it numbered over one hundred members, as we learn in a letter 
of Elder Rawls at the time. He also gave the cheering ac- 
count that his brother, John Rawls, a member of the same 
church, had, at his death, which occurred a short time previ- 
ous, liberated fifty-one slaves. In 1834, Elder Rawls became 
afflicted with w 7 hat the doctors called leprosy, from which he 
suffered much. He was considered one of the good and promi- 
nent ministers in the Virginia and North Carolina Conference. 
He was also a correspondent of our northern papers the most of 
his ministerial life. He died several years ago. 

L. S. Ray was a minister of the Eastern Indiana Confer- 
ence. He lived and labored in Delaware and adjoining counties, 
and died in 1873. 

B. H. Rea. (1804— 1876.)— This Elder was born in Vir- 
ginia, May 20, 1804, moved with his parents to Ross County, 
O., and in 1821, settled near De Graff, Logan County, where he 
continued to live the remainder of his life — a period of fifty- 
five years. In 1820, he was married to Miss Anna El wood, 
of whom he had thirteen children, all living at the time of the 
father's death, but one, w r ho fell in the War of the Rebellion. 



294 REA— REEDER. 

He joined the Christian Church in 1833, began to preach in 
1834, and Avas ordained in 1840, being a member of the Au- 
glaize Ohio Conference. He was a zealous, devoted man, and 
in an early day had regular preaching at his own house fre- 
quently. He died at De Graff, O., November 12, 1876. 

Reuben Reading. (1795 — 1870.) — This brother was for 
many years a member of the Deer Creek Ohio Christian Con- 
ference, and lived the latter part of his life in Pickaway and 
Madison counties. He was bora in Kentucky in 1795, moved 
with his mother to where Williamsport, O., now stands, in 
1800. His education was limited in his boyhood, but by en- 
ergy he gained considerable knowledge, especially of the Scrip- 
tures. In 1812, he was enrolled in the militia, became a ser- 
geant in the company, and served during the war against Eng- 
land. In a few years after the close of the war, he was married 
to Miss Rebecca Scott, of whom lie had seven children. His 
first wife having died, he married Nancy Lingo, of whom he had 
eleven children. In 1837, he was converted under the preach- 
ing of Elder I. N. Walter, was baptized by Elder Enoch Har- 
vey, and soon after was ordained. For many years, he labored 
with great success in the bounds of the Deer Creek Confer 
ence, being an able revivalist. He died January 21, 1870. 

Joseph Redman was a Christian minister that labored in 
Central Ohio about 1820, moved to Illinois, and preached in 
that state as late as 1840. 

Jacob Reeder. (1800 — 1871.) — This brother was born 
February 7, 1800, lived in Clark County, O., the most of his 
life, attended church at Knob Prairie for more than forty years, 
was married about 1820, joined the church in 1835, com- 
menced preaching in 1840, was ordained in the Miami Confer- 
ence, O., in 1841, and died at his home in Clark County, O., 
May 22, 1871. During his entire ministerial life, he lived on 
a farm and accumulated a handsome competency, but being a 
man of strong constitution, he labored extensively in the minis- 
try. He was, for sometime, a pastor of the Enon and Ebene- 
zer churches, in his own neighborhood. He also had charge 
of churches farther away. During most of his ministerial life, 
he was engaged as a pastor. He was very prompt in his at- 
tendance, and succeeded well in his pastoral relations. His 
preaching was of the expository kind, in which he was a strong 



REEDER— REYNOLD. 295 

man. But the most prominent feature in Elder Reeder's life 
was in connection with the general measures of the denomina- 
tion. In this, he had few equals. He was cool and deliber- 
ate in his calculations, generous with his means, and w T as nat- 
urally a safe business man, and as such was highly esteemed. 
He served for many years as a trustee of the Western Publish 
ing Association, and the educational interests of the church. He 
was often called to serve as chairman of conferences, a work 
to which he was well adapted. For several years before his 
death, he was not able to travel, but to the last, he felt a great 
interest in the cause that he served so faithfully for thirty? 
seven years of his life. 

THE REEVES. Benjamin Reeves.— Of this brother 
we have no further knowledge than that he was an aged min- 
ister of the Christian Church in North Carolina, about the be- 
ginning of this century. 

Thomas Reeves lived for many years in the western part 
of Orange County, X. C. For some time, he was a senior com- 
panion of Joseph Thomas (the White Pilgrim) itinerating in 
the South. The latter speaks in the highest terms of his kind- 
ness to him when a boy, and his faithfulness as a minister. In 
1807, he lived in Surry County, Va. In 1808, he left the lat- 
ter state for Tennessee, but returned again in a short time, and 
from this time until 1820, he was in the habit of visiting at the 
home of Elder John Hays, of Wake County, N. C. In his old 
age, he moved to Clay County, Mo., and died many years 
a°"0. He was considered a model Christian man. 

o 

Willis Reeves was one of the early ministers of North 
Carolina and Virginia. It is probable that he and the two 
preceding were family relations. 

James Reid. — All we know of this brother is, that he died 
in the work before 1826. 

THE REYNOLDS. Edson J. Reynold. (1807—1857.) 

— The subject of this sketch was the second son of Clark and 
Mary Reynold, of North Lansing, Tomkins County, N. Y, 
He was born in the above place April 30, 1807. In July, 
1831, he professed religion, and was baptized by Elder Ezra 
Marvin February 27, 1828. He preached his first sermon in 



296 REYNOLDS— RICHARDSON. 

the church at North Lansing, where he was a strong member. 
In August, 1834, he joined the Central New York Confer- 
ence, and the next year, was ordained at Scipio. He became 
the pastor of some churches in the neighborhood of his home, 
and continued his labors with them until 1838, when he took 
charge of the Henrietta and neighboring churches, till 1841. 
At this time he moved to Plainville, where he continued 
till 1847, when he moved to Union Springs, and there contin- 
ued his labors till forced to desist on account of pulmonary dis- 
ease. He died at the latter place September 24, 1857, aged 
fifty years. 

During the time of the above pastorates, Elder Reynold 
traveled quite extensively, and was successful in many revi- 
vals. He was also a writer of some note, and wrote much for 
the periodicals of the church. His views of church polity 
were very clear and he expressed them freely. Elder O. E. 
Morrill, who wrote his biography, speaks of him as excelling 
in pastoral work ; but as he was a consumptive, his voice was 
weak for the delivery of sermons, though the arrangement of 
his subjects was systematic and logical. He buried an only 
son shortly before his death, and the only members of his fam- 
ily that survived him was a wife and an only daughter, the 
latter in feeble health. 

Paul Reynold. (1790—1842.) — This brother lived in 
Maine, and for eighteen years was engaged in the work of the 
ministry. He was born in 1790, entered the ministry in 1824, 
and was ordained at Solomon, Me., in June, 1829. He was a 
member of the Stafford Christian Conference. He died in Ac- 
ton, Me., August 30, 1842, aged fifty-two years, leaving a wife 
and eight children. 

Snow Richardson. — Elder Snow Richardson, at the time 
of his death, was a resident of Yellow Springs, O., and a mem- 
ber of the Miami Christian Conference. In early life he lived 
in Butler County, where he joined the Christian Church, and 
became an acceptable preacher. During his early ministry, 
he embraced the speculative doctrine held by Elder William 
Kinkade and others, that the words "begotten" and 'treated," 
as applied to Christ, meant the same thing. Whether he made 
a hobby of this theory in his preaching is unknown to the 
compiler. Be that as it may, there was an investigation of the 
matter in conference, and the result of it was, that Elder Rich 



RICHARDSON— RIFFORD. 297 

ardsonl was suspended by the body. Being a good man, how- 
ever, he never ceased his labors as a faithful preacher, likely for- 
gettiug all about the subject that caused the separation. He 
continued to labor in this independent way, doiug much good 
in the cause, until 1853 or '54, when he was received in the same 
body, and continued faithful until death. 

During a considerable portion of his ministry, he lived in 
Shelby County, O., but the latter years of his life were spent 
in Yellow Springs, where he died about 1860, leaving a record 
behind him of an honest, good man. At the time of his death 
he was not far from sixty years of age. 

G. "W. Richmonj) was for many years a prominent minis- 
ter of the Christian Church, in the states of New York and 
Pennsylvania. In April, 1837, he was laboring with great 
success in the Wyoming Valley, Penn., as he had baptized 115 
persons in a little over one month. The revival was spreading 
throughout the neighborhood, but mostly in Plymouth. The 
same year, July 2, he had what he considered a Providential 
escape from the effects of a fearful tornado that demolished 
every building in the village of Centre ville, Penn., where he 
and brethren Gaylord, Wadham, Benedict, and Farnham in- 
tended to remain all night, but by a singular mental impression 
of the Elder's, they were induced to stay a mile or two out of 
the path ot the tornado. He was a good, earnest and efficient 
minister. I am not informed of the dates of his birth or death. 

Joel Richwine. (1805 — 1870.) — Joel was born in the 
State of Virginia in 1805, moved in early life to Wayne 
County, Ind., and from there to Madison County, the same 
statf, where he continued through life. About 1833, he joined 
the United Brethren Church, and soon after received license as 
an exhorter. In 1836, becoming acquainted with the Chris- 
tian Church, he fell in with the views held by the latter body, 
and united with the church. He was ordained soon after, and 
continued a faithful member and minister in the body lor 
thirty-four years. He was very zealous and ardent in the work. 
He was not what might be called an able preacher, as he fol- 
lowed some other .occupation for a living, but he was gifted in 
singing and prayer, and was useful in his sphere. He died near 
Frankton, Ind., May 21, 1870, aged sixty-five years. 

Lazaeus Riffobd. (1796 — 1870.) — Lazarus was born in 
Vermont, in 1796, and Avas ordained in Randolph, in the same 
19 



298 RIFFORD— ROBERTS. 

state, in 1841, though he was a preacher for many years before. 
He was a good man, and had the name of being awake v hen 
others were asleep. He died of paralysis, at North Chester, 
Vt., April 28, 1870, aged seventy-four years. 

John Robbins. (1819 — 1877.) — John was bom in Shelby 
County, O., August 8, 1819, and died near Des Moines, Iowa, 
May 7, 1877. He was converted, soon after began to preach, 
and was ordained. In 1847, he moved to Iowa, and was mar- 
ried the same year to Miss Mary E. Clark, a faithtul Christian 
lady, who survived him. Elder W. C. Smith speaks highly of 
his faithfulness as a minister, and that he (Smith) was brought 
to the Christian Church through the influence of Elder Rob- 
bins. 

THE ROBERTSES. Abigail Roberts. (1791—1841.) 
— Few women, in a humble station in life, exerted a greater 
influence in the church than did Sister Roberts in her own de- 
nomination for about sixteen years, from 1814 to 1830. She 
was the daughter of William and Esther Hoag, of Greenbush, 
Rensellaer County, N. Y.,and was born February 17, 1791. 
Her parents were members of the Quaker Church, and she was 
brought up in the same faith. In 1803, her parents moved to 
Saratoga County, where, in 1809, she was married to Nathan 
Roberts. In 1814, she was converted under the preaching of 
Mrs. Nancy Cram, and soon after began to speak in public. 
At the time of her conversion she was the mother of three 
children. The husband was converted and joined the Chris- 
tian Church soon after his wife, and when she began to speak 
in public, he left his work and traveled in company with her, 
and was an efficient worker in the cause. 

The first labors of Sister Roberts were in connection with 
her spiritual mother, Sister Nancy Cram, but the latter dying, 
Sister Roberts carried on the meeting in company with others. 
From Saratoga County, where she began to preach, she trav- 
eled on through the adjoining counties in Eastern New York, 
where hundreds were converted through her ministrations. 
About 1824, Sisters Abigail Roberts and Anne Rexford labored 
together in many places. At that time they held meetings in 
the State of New Jersey, and in 1826, the church at Johnson- 
burg was organized mainly through the labors of Mrs. Roberts. 
In 1827, she extended her visits as far as Milford, N. J., and 
such was the interest awakened through her preaching, and the 



ROBERTS. 299 

opposition of the other churches to her doctrine, that the peo- 
ple, irrespective of denominational lines, built her a fine stone 
meeting house, that has stood there ever since. The same 
people also donated a house and some ground, to which the 
Roberts family moved, and lived there for several years. The 
crowds that came to hear her during this time were very large, 
and many were the numbers converted under her preaching. 
Soon after their removal to Milford, her health began to fail, 
and although she labored at home and in other places after 
that, to good success, yet her health never entirely recov- 
ered. In 1830, Elder William Lane took charge of the church 
in Milford, but Sister Roberts, who lived in the place some 
years after, rendered valuable service in the work. In 1834, 
the family of Mr. Roberts moved to Putnam County, N. Y., 
and one year after to Union Vale, in the adjoining county of 
Orange. In 1838, Mr. Roberts bought a farm near Hyde 
Park, Luzerne County, Penn., to which the family moved the 
same year. During all these years, our sister, though cheer- 
ful, and laboring occasionally in the ministry, was clearly fail- 
ing in health and w T as sensible of her approacning separation 
from earthly scenes. She died in her new home, near Hyde 
Park, Penn., July 7, 1841, in her fiftieth year. Three years 
later, the faithful husband died and was buried by the side of 
his companion. In 1856, the bodies of both were removed 
and deposited in the grave-yard adjoining the meeting house in 
Milford, N. J., their old home, where a monument was raised 
by the church to their memory. A son of hers, Philetus Rob- 
erts, has been a useful minister in the same church for many 
years. 

Cotton Roberts. (1800 — 1847.) — This brother moved 
from the State of New York to Illinois, and died in the latter 
state. He was born about 1800, professed religion about 1822, 
moved to Illinois in 1833, entered the ministry in the latter 
state, and died of quick consumption, in 1847, aged forty-seven 
years. 

William Roberts. (1811 — 1845.) — This was a brother of 
the preceding, who commenced his religious life in Bingham- 
ton, N. Y., and ended his days in DeKalb County, HI. He 
was converted in the former place, and for convenience, joined 
the Methodist Church. 

He was born in 1811, commenced preaching in 1835, la- 



300 ROBERTS— ROBERTSON. 

bored in the bounds of the New York Eastern Christian Con- 
ference, for about seven years, but his voice failed him while 
laboring in Hampden, Delaware County, N. Y., in 1842. 
He moved to Illinois, where his voice was partially restored, 
and he labored about one year at Belvedere. His voice fail- 
ing him again, he resorted to his trade for a living. He died 
in the neighborhood of the Fairfield Church. DeKalb County t 
111., October 6, 1845, aged thirty-four years. The church 
raised a monument to his memory. 

John B. Robektson. (1800 — 1878.) — John was bom in 
Greene County, O., in 1800, began to preach about 1833, be- 
came a traveling companion of Elder Hallet Barber, and con- 
tinued on his long circuit in Eastern Indiana and Western 
Ohio for eight years. He labored in the bounds of the Bluff- 
ton Conference, Ind., until about 1846, when he was married 
to Miss Ruth J. Campbell, and soon after moved to the south- 
ern part of Indiana, in Rush County, and united with the Cen- 
tral Indiana Conference. About 1860, he moved to Merom, 
the location of Union Christian College, for the purpose of edu 
eating his children. He continued in that place, preaching 
what he could in the neighboring churches to the last. He died 
at his home in Merom, January 12, 1878. 

Elder Robertson never occupied a high position in the de- 
nomination. He was not a great scholar, nor was he noted 
for any great gift as a miuister, though his talent was quite re- 
spectable in knowledge, in sermonizing, and in delivery. But 
the peculiarity in the life of our brother was his zeal — his en- 
tire devotion to the work, his firmness, and his thorough sin- 
cerity and conscientiousness in all that he did. When he was 
converted, he was converted all over. When he began to 
preach, he gave himself entirely to the Lord. Yfhen he read 
the Bible, he studied its contents for his rule of conduct, and 
never swerved one iota from what he understood it to teach. 
He would have made a first class martyr. In early life he lie- 
came a. stern abolitionist, when it cost something to be an an- 
ti-slavery man. But it mattered not to him what sacrifice it re- 
quired, it was ready. He was equally zealous in the princi- 
ples of peace between nations, and the introduction of arbitra- 
tion, instead of the sword, to settle misunderstandings ; so was 
he on temperance — total abstinence in all things injurious, like 
whisky and tobacco, and stri3t moderation in the use of all ar- 
ticles necessary for use. He once used tobacco, but the mo- 



ROBERTSON— RODERICK. 301 

ment he was convinced that the use of it was contrary to the 
teaching of God's word, he used it no more. He was equally 
hrm in his opposition to all sacret societies, and it made no dif- 
ference who of his dearest and best friends belonged to any of 
these, he would tell them of his convictions, and his reasons for 
them, kindly but firmly. Doubtless Elder Robertson would 
have been far more popular with the masses had he been less 
rigid, and more of a time server. Many thought him curious, 
fanatical, and standing in his own light, but those that knew 
him best, knew that he was one of God's noblemen, and that 
liis frankness in opposing what he considered evil did not 
grow out from any bitterness or narrowness, but from a large, 
pure conscience, that would not swerve. He had a large heart, 
and was fall of charity. Xo man would do more than he for 
the drunkard, the warriors, and members of secret societies, 
though he bitterly opposed their practice. 

He became a trustee of Union Christian College at its or- 
ganization, and continued in the same office until death. For 
many years he was one of the Executive Committee. His 
whole soul was enlisted in its welfare. 

His first wife having died, he married for his second, Mrs. 
Sarah Cason, in 1870. Although an industrious and econom- 
ical man, he continued through life in limited circumstances. 
He died as stated, full of labor, well stricken in years, with 
not a cloud to obscure his clear sky of faith and hope. 

William S. Robixson, (1803 — 1876.) — William was 
born at Cadiz, Harrison County, O., in 1803, moved, in an 
early day, with his parents to the neighborhood of Danville, 
Knox County, of the same state, was married to an estimable 
lady, and converted, becoming a member of the Christian 
Church at Danville about 1835. He continued a member of 
the same church until death. He began to preach soon after 
his conversion, and continued to labor, more or less, through 
life. His education was limited, and he followed secular work 
for his support. He was a member of the Mt. Vernon Con- 
ference, O. Elder James W. Marvin, a neighbor of our sub- 
ject for many years, speaks in the highest terms of his firm- 
ness, zeal, and generosity in the cause. He died at his home, 
near Mt. Vernon, in 1876. 

Roderick. — I am informed that this old Christian 

minister died about 1852, not far from eighty vears old. He 



302 RODERICK— ROLLINS. 

lived for many years in the southern part of the State of New- 
York and labored in Steuben and Chemung counties, N. Y., 
and adjoining counties in Pennsylvania. He was limited in 
worldly possession. 

THE ROGERSES. Daniel Rogees. (1796 — 1867.) — 
Daniel was bom in 1796, was ordained at Stewartstown, N. 
H., in 1837, and died in the same place October 30, 1867, aged 
seventy-one years. 

Mason Rogeks. (1837— 1869.)— This young preacher 
was the grandson of Elder Joshua Howard, of New York 
State. He himself was born in that state in 1837. In youth, 
he joined the Christian Church, and in 1855, moved to Wis- 
consin, where he began to preach. He moved to Canada in 
1862 or '63, and was a very useful minister in the province 
till death. He died January 2, 1869, in Castleton, Ontario, 
Canada, aged thirty-two years. He left a wife and three chil- 
dren, and many friends, to mourn their loss. His career was 
short, but from his great zeal and energy in the acquisition of 
knowledge his prospect for future usefulness was bright. 

THE ROLLINSES. E. B. Rollins. (1793— 1876.)— El- 
der Rollins was one of those men whose long lives are filled 
with events worthy of record. His mind was active, his health 
the very best, his ambition large, and his zeal pushing him to 
the front of the battle. This stirring, active man was born in 
Andover, N. H., in 1793, was converted in youth, began to 
preach in 1815, and entered fully into the work at once. His 
education must have been respectable, for he wrote a great 
deal for the press, and was engaged, more or less, all his life 
in the publishing business. He published, at different times, 
two religious newspapers, one of which, the "Bethlehem Star," 
was published at Bethel, Vt., in 1824. His principal field of 
labor was Vermont, though he traveled extensively through 
other states. He was pastor of many churches, in labor- 
ing with which he succeeded well. But his great fort in the 
work was as an evangelist, and in conducting general meet- 
ings. In his younger days, he could be heard distinctly one 
mile, so clear and penetrating was his voice. 

He retained his vigor to the last. It seems that his excess- 
ive labor, constant traveling, and two or three sermons or lec- 
tures a day agreed with his constitution. His general weight 



ROLLINS- ROSS. 303 

was 180 pounds. He was strongly built. In 1857, he pub- 
lished a book on the Prophesies, comparing their teaching to that 
of science and history. In this work, he called himself the 
"White Mountain Pilgrim." In the latter part of his life, he 
delivered many lectures on the same subject — the Prophesies. 
He seems to have made the Old Testament Prophesies a spec- 
iality in his studies of the Scriptures. Those that heard him 
say that his lectures were very clear. He wrote to friends, 
w T hen on the eve of eighty years, that his health and vigor 
continued unabated. 

He died at East Braintree, Vt., February 1, 1876, of pneu- 
monia, which he contracted on a long journey, being thinly 
clad. His last words were, "O that men would praise the 
Lord for his goodness and wonderful work to the children of 
man." It was a glorious death, at the close of an active, stir- 
ring life, to have but a few days sickness, and that caused by 
his ministerial work in his eighty-third year — the fifty-ninth of 
his ministry. 

Frederick Rollins. ( — 1843.) — This brother died in 

Chatham County, N. C, October 17, 1843. He had been a 
faithful minister for many years. 

William Rollins was a minister that lived many years in 
Moore County, 1ST. C. In his latter years, he preached for the 
Shallowell Christian Church. 

Joseph W. Rook. (1830— 1875.)— Brother Rook was 
born September 22, 1830, was converted in 1852, continued an 
active private member in the church until 1870, when he be- 
gan to preach, joined the Northern Missouri Conference, and 
was ordained by that body. Elder Killen speaks highly of 
his kindness and zeal. He died in Sullivan County, Mo., 
January 17, 1875. 

Benjamin Rose was a native of N. C. After preaching 
for some years, he died at his home in Johnston County, N. C, 
about 1827. 

THE ROSSES. Glass Ross was a plain, practical, far- 
mer preacher, and a member of the Bluifton Conference, Ind. 
Although of limited education, and not of the highest talent 
as a speaker, and being compelled to work for a living, yet 



304 ROSS. 

the Elder was counted by his brethren a useful m m in the 
ministry. His whole heart was enlisted in the work, and 
many were led to the Savior through his instrumentality. In 
the latter part of his life, he lived near Granville, Delaware 
County, Ind. He died in that place about 1856, not far from 
■sixty years of age. 

John Ross. (1794— 1 879. ) —Elder John Ross, one of the 
leading ministers in Eastern New York for more than three- 
score years, had but few removals in his long life. He was 
born October 7, 1794, was converted in 1813, under the 
labors of Nancy Cram, was baptized by Jabez King the same 
year, received a common school education, and united with 
the Christian Church at Burnt Hill at its organization. He 
enlisted in the war of 1812 against England, was ordained in 
March, 1819, and was married to Miss Lavina Ames, Septem- 
ber 16, the same year. He continued preaching in different 
parts of the state till September, 1822, when he moved to 
Charleston Four Corners, N. Y., remaining pastor of the 
•church in that place till 1872, when, on account of failing 
health, he offered his resignation. It was reluctantly accepted 
by the church at the time, to satisfy Father Ross, and other 
ministers filled the place the remaining seven years. But, vir- 
tually, he was senior pastor till death, and would doubtless 
have continued the relation had he lived longer, making one 
of the longest pastorates in the Christian Church — uninterrupt- 
edly for fifty years, virtually for fitty-seven. He died at his 
home, among his people, December 29, 1879, full of labor and 
usefulness. 

Such is an outline of the life of Father Ross ; but the biog- 
raphy of such a man is not contained in these few events. As 
we look upon the history of the Christians in the great State 
of New York, we find many ministers of great prominence in the 
iield during the more than sixty years of Elder Ross' minister- 
ial life. Iu the midst of this large galaxy of names, humble, 
unpretending John Ross stands with a few others at the head 
as leaders — among others we may mention King, Thompson, 
Shaw, Millard, Badger, Morrill, and Hazen (still living-1880), 
and a few others ; but none stand higher in the ranks 
than our subject. That woman of God, Nancy Cram, through 
great affliction, became the messenger, under the guidance of 
the great Spirit, to awake the sleeping communities of Sara- 
toga and Charleston, N. Y., to a sense of their duty. Thomp- 



ROSS. 305 

•son, King, and Martin followed the good sister to confirm and 
strengthen the work, Hazen, Shaw, Badger, and John Peavy 
followed soon after, and Millard, Ross, Hollister, and 
Sister Abigail Roberts were called to the work through 
Sister Cram. Shaw and Martin soon returned to New Eng- 
land, Thompson went to other fields, Peavy died early, Bad- 
ger was broken by paralysis, Millard moved to the State of 
Michigan to rest and die, but Ross was so fortunate as to stand 
rat his post of duty to the last. But during the last few weeks 
■of his life, both mind and body were broken down by paraly- 
sis and old age. The old pastor was there, however, as a cen- 
tral figure for his flock to gather around, if but to receive a 
word and a kiss from the old lips, now palsied, but in other 
years had delivered unto them the sweet message of peace. It 
was a glorious death, after a noble and successful life. The 
wife of his youth yet (1880) lingers on the shore, the son on 
whom they both doted having passed over the river in 1848 ; 
but the gospel that sustained the patriarch so long was precious 
to the last. 

I have often wondered whether the contemplation? of Elder 
Ross, in his last years, were sad or joyful. In 1869, I met 
him for the last time in his own conference at Lawrence, N. Y. 
He was then an old man, broken down with age and labor ; 
but his conversation was interesting, and he was the central 
figure of the great and strong men composing that large con- 
ference — he was the patriarch of the tribe. Few of the com- 
rades of his youth remained then, and as years passed on they 
went one by one, till at the time of his death, as far as known 
to the writer, there was none left but Jasper Hazen, in the 
distant State of Vermont. Doubtless his feelings during 
these years were a mixture of joy and sadness — of joy because 
he was so soon to pass over and reunite with the faithful ones 
on the other side ; of sadness because the dark river had to 
be crossed, and that he should never meet the companion of 
his youth on this side, as in other days : 

Judging from his life's work — his preaching, his pastoral 
work, and his writings, — we would infer that the following 
were prominent traits in the character of our subject. 

1st. Quietness and moderation. When he was converted, 
he quietly went to work to exhort and preach, in a small way. 
And so he continued to groAV more and more efficient till old 
#ge and disease interfered with his progress. His remaining 
:SO long in one place also shows these characteristics. 



306 ROSS. 

2nd. Studiousness. We have no knowledge of his early ed- 
ucation ; but Brother Francis Hoag, one of the members of 
his church, and one that knew him thoroughly for many years, 
says that he had only a common school education in his youth. 
Neither do we know of his habits of study ; but all must know 
that no man, however talented, could w T rite such letters as he 
wrote, and sustain himself for so many years so successfully as 
he did with his large church without being studious. 

3rd. Comprehsiveness in thought. As has been said, his 
education was not extensive, but his thoughts, as expressed in 
all his writings, are clear, terse, logical, and graphic. Many 
have expressed wonder at his ability as a writer. Whatever 
subject he took up, he seemed to have looked all through the 
points involved. Then starting out slowly, he took the divis- 
ions of his subject one by one as if by instinct ; and when he 
came to the end, it seemed that he had said all that w r as to be 
said at that time, and that in the very best of order, with 
nothing left out. 

4th. Kindness of disposition. This was shown by the strong 
attachment that the members of his church retained for him 
years after leaving his parish. In his long pastorate,, 
many hundreds attached themselves to his church at Charles- 
ton ; but moved by the spirit of emigration, many of these 
settled in the various states of the Union, and in Canada ;. 
still, many retained their membership at Charleston, appa- 
rently for the sake of the kind pastor, and reported themselves 
yearlv at a meeting appointed for that purpose by the pastor 
and his church* 

5th. Firmness in what he believed to be true. Many changes 
took place in his conference in the more than half a century 
of his connection with it ; and many a brilliant minister Avas 
carried away from his moorings by Adventism, TJniversalism 
and other fascinating ideas that pleased for the hour. Elder 
Ross had a kind word and heart for all these, but he never 
swerved, not because- he was sectarian and bigoted, but be- 
cause his mind had been fixed upon the liberal principles of 
the Bible alone as a foundation of faith, and his firmness was 
unshaken. 

6th. Consecration of heart to the work, and a full trust in 
God. In his early ministry, his salary was small — very small. 
It is not likely that there was any stipulation between him 
and his congregations for some time after he began to preach ; 
for in those clays, ministers had to gather their congregations.. 



ROSS. 307 

Yet, from the beginning, he never turned to the right or to the 
left from the great work before him. He labored with his 
hands, and doubtless added to his small income by that means. 
But this was, to him, always, secondary. The iirst and chief 
work of his life was the ministry of Jesus Christ. His heart 
was consecrated to his vocation. His trust in God was so firm 
that he relied upon Him for his daily bread, as well as for his 
soul's salvation — and he was not disappointed. By economy 
and industry, he laid up a little for old age. 

His life was an even, quiet, and pleasant one. The one sad 
event that clouded the future of Brother and Sister Ross was 
the death of their only son, their hope for the future, who 
died among strangers in a distant state. This cup was so bit- 
ter that nothing but the Grace of God and the hope of a re- 
union in a better land could make it tolerable to the bereaved 
parents. Peace to his ashes and rest to his soul. 

George Xelsox Ross. (1822— 1848.)— This brother was 
the only son of Elder John Ross, of Charleston Four Corners, 
X. Y., was born in 1822, and was a young man of much prom- 
ise, at the time of his death. He professed religion in 1836, 
and united with the church under the care of his father. In 
1841, he commenced preaching, and was received into the New 
York Eastern Conference the year following, In 1843, he 
traveled in the West, preaching in various places with good 
success. He extended his travels as far west as Illinois, but 
in 1864, settled at Hamilton, Butler County, O., where he 
died February 5, 1848, aged twenty-six years. He had a fine 
mind, good education, and his prospect for the future was 
bright, but such is life ; with all his advantages, he died far 
away from home — from doting parents and warm friends, 
a stranger in a strange land, but the gospel which he received 
from pious parents, and which he himself had begun to preach, 
was sufficient for him, and to his aged parents in their sore be- 
reavement. 

Seth Ross, jr. ( 1863.) — The brother whose name 

heads this sketch, was for many years an active worker in the 
Christian cause in Xew York and some of the Eastern States. 
Without a regular obituary, we gather the following from the 
letters of friends, and his own published letters in our papers : 

He was born, probably, in Vermont or Xew Hampshire. 
He began to preach before December 7, 1S37. for he was or- 



308 ROSS— ROTE. 

darned at that date at Readsborough, Vt., by Elders Jabez 
King and David Ford. From this time he writes frequently 
to the "Christian Palladium." In 1839, he was laboring in 
the State of Massachusetts, and in 1840, he settled at Walpole, 
N. H. In 1842, he labored in Saratoga County, N. Y., and 
the same year, he settled as pastor ol the Burnt Hdl Church 
in the same county. He was married to a sister of Elders Abi- 
jah and Moses Kidder, and in 1815, he buried two little chil- 
dren, a son and daughter. From 1849 to 1853, he was pastor 
of the church at Washington, N. H. After which he remained 
two years at Boscawen and Columbia, together with neighbor- 
ing churches. October 24, 1859, his wife Elvira was buried, 
while the Elder was so sick he could not attend the funeral. 
He afterward married a Mrs. Hubbard, a sister of his former 
wife. In the latter part of his life, also, he labored some in 
Mario vv and Walpole, N. H. He finally moved to Sharon, 
Yt., where he died in 1863. 

Elder Ross was a firm, reliable and conscientious man. 
Some of his sermons were able productions, but ordinarily his 
discourses were plain, practicable, and unpretentious. He was 
not so much of a revivalist, as he was a good, substantial and 
faithful pastor. Such is the judgement of those who knew 
him well. 

Thomas Ross was born in Maryland, about 1754. In early 
life he joined the Methodist Church, and was a minister in 
that body for many years. He finally joined the Christians, 
and preached extensively in Brown and Clermont counties, O. 
He died in Brown County. He was the grandfather of Elder 
Naaman Dawson. He was considered an able man. 

Daniel Rote. (1790 — 1864.) — This brother was born in 
Eastern Pennsylvania in 1790, joined the Methodist Church 
sit an early age, but for an honest difference in views, he left 
them in 1831 or 32, joined the Christian Church, and was 
baptized by Elder John Case, in 1832. He soon after began 
to exhort, and was ordained at Fairfield, Lysoming County, 
Penn., March 9, 1833, by Milliard, Marvin, and others. In 
one year after, he had organized four churches in his own 
neighborhood, of 143 members in the aggregate. He con- 
tinued his labors in Pennsylvania for many years, and was 
< -*ie of the leading men in the organization of the Pennsylvania 
( iristian Conference, of which he became a member. In 1846, 



ROTE— SAFFORD. 309 

he left his home and work in Pennsylvania, and moved to De 
Kalb County, 111. In his new home in the West, he entered 
heartily to the work of the ministry, and was very usefnl in 
the cause. About 1860, disease and old age came upon him, so 
that he was not able to labor much, but his heart was in the 
work to the last. In 1862, he received a stroke of paralysis, 
from which he never entirely recovered. He died May 24, 
1864, aged seventy-four years, leaving an aged companion in a 
dying state, from the same disease. He had been a successful 
man in his day. 

Alexander Rowing was an old minister in limited cir- 
cumstances, living near Williamsport, Pickaway County, O., 
and died there about 1831. He was counted an able preacher. 

Caleb Royce. (1812 — 1850.) — Caleb was a young min 
ister at the time of his death, residing at Starkey, N. Y. 
Having started to cross Seneca Lake from Starkey to Hector, 
in company with two young lady friends, Misses Lanning and 
Bellows, while far out in the lake, the boat was capsized by a 
gust of wind. Having secured the two young ladies so far as 
to have a hold on the boat, he undertook to swin to shore for 
another boat. . Though an expert swimmer, he never reached 
the land. The ladies were rescued and his body was found 
soon alter. 

He was born in 1812, and entered the ministry in 1840. He 
made quite a proficiency in the work, having had the charge of 
several churches. At the time of his death, he was pastor of 
the churches of Milo aud Hector. His death occurred August 
15, 1850, at the age of thirty-eight years. 

W. D. Rutherford. (1818— 1867.)— This brother was- 
born in Bath, N. Y., in 1818. He was of English parentage, 
and was brought up in the Presbyterian Church, but joined 
the Christians in 1834. In 1841, he united with the New 
York Central Conference, and was ordained in 1843. In 1845,. 
on account of changing his location, he united with the Tioga 
River Christian Conference, and died in Corning, Steuben 
County, N. Y., July 18, 1867, aged forty-nine years. 

Moses Safford. (1771 — 1816.) — Elder Safford was born 
in 1771, began his labors in the ministry at Kittery, Me., : n 
1802, and died in the same place, April 28, 1816, at the ag«i 
of forty-five years. 



310 SAGE— SANFORD. 

Alexander Sage. (1792 — 1853.) — Alexander was born 
in 1792, was converted when quite young, and became a faith- 
ful minister. He is spoken of as a useful man. He died near 
Terre Haute, Vigo County, Ind., December 23, 1853. 

Levi Sanders. (1816 — 1863.) — This brother was brought 
up in the Quaker Church. He was born August 17, 1816. 
His early efforts to acquire an education were commendable, 
and in which he succeeded well. He attended school for some 
time at Ann Arbor Uuiversity, in the State of Michigan, and 
was converted during that time. At the first California ex- 
citement, he started with a company to the land of gold, and 
spent some time in that country. About 1852, he joined the 
Christian Church, began to preach, and soon after joined the 
Central Illinois Conference. Being of a timid and modest dis- 
position, he advanced slowly, but surely, in the work. He was 
married August 30, 1855, to Miss Mary E. Outten, and was 
ordained September, 1858. He labored mostly with the 
churches in Vermillion and adjoining counties in Illinois, ex- 
tending his work, also, to the western part of Indiana. His 
exemplary life and his education and ability soon gave him a 
high position among his brethren. 

September 4, 1862, he was appointed Chaplain of the 125th 
Regiment 111. V I., to serve in the War of the Rebellion. 
During the siege of Knoxville, Tenn., in 1863, while sitting 
at the door of his tent, he was struck by a piece of a shell from 
the enemy, and was killed instantly, leaving a wife and sev- 
eral childreu, and many brethren, to mourn their loss. Brother 
Sanders was highly respected, both as a preacher and scholar. 
He was, for a time before his death, the school examiner of his 
county, and spent considerable time in this work. His educa- 
tion would have given him wealth and position in society, had 
he desired it, but he preferred the humble position and small 
salary of a minister more than all the honor the world would 
give. 

Philip Sanford. (1788 — 1869.) — Philip was born in 
Wesport, Mass., in 1788, converted in 1807, began to preach 
in 1808, moved to the State of New York in 1812, and was or- 
dained at Galway, in the latter state, by Elder Elijah Shaw, 
and others, in 1816. During his stay in New York, he was 
very successful as a minister. We are not informed at what 
time he returned to Massachusetts, but it is probable that he 



SANFORD— SCOTT. 311 

spent the greatest part of his ministerial life there. He died 
at Westport, Mass., April 18, 1869, aged eighty-one years. 

Elijah Scarborough lived, the latter part of his life, 
within a few miles of Columbus, Bartholomew- County, Ind., 
oil a farm. He was in good circumstances, and was a member 
of the Central Conference, Ind. He was a zealous, energetic 
preacher, of the old-fashioned type. When he spoke, it was 
done with much earnestness. It is probable that he was orig- 
inally from one of the Southern States, as he frequently made 
long visits to the South, especially to Arkansas and Tennessee. 
He would stay for months at a time, holding meetings almost 
every day. He was a little lame in one foot, otherwise, hardy 
and tough — a regular pioneer. He died at his home in Indi- 
ana, not far from 1864, about seventy years old. He was 
highly respected for his goodness, by his co-laborers in the con- 
ference. 

THE SCOTTS. Dorsey Scott was a young minister 
that died in the State of Illinois, at the age of thirty-six years. 

John Scott. (1788 — 1847.) — This brother was a pioneer 
minister, and was willing to suffer any privation for the sake of 
the good cause of Christ. He was born in Virginia in 1788, 
moved to Kentucky when young, was married to Polly Crystal 
in 1812, was converted and commenced preaching about 1815. 
In 1818, he moved to Jennings County, Ind., where he re- 
mained for some time, but moved, the same year, to Laurence 
County, 111. He was active in the ministry in both places. In 
the latter place, he organized a church in his own house. In 
1824, he moved to Fountain County, Ind., and organized the 
first Christian Church in that county, the same year. Through 
his labors there, the Cole Creek Conference, Ind., was organ- 
ized. He was ordained by this conference in 1825. In 1827, 
he moved to Illinois, to Fulton County, where he continued 
very active. When the Spoon River Conference was organized, 
he became one of its most prominent members. While he had 
the charge of some churches near his home, his travels m 
breaking new grounds, knew no bounds. Being appointed a 
delegate to the Cole Creek Conference Ind., (now the West- 
ern Conference) in 1847, while on his way there, he was taken 
sick with a fever. He stopped at the house of Mr. Peters, in 
Champaign County, III, 160 miles from his home, where, af- 
ter sixteen days' suffering, he died at the age of fifty-nine. 



312 SCOTT— SEWARD. 

He had two sons in the Christian ministry when he died. 
He raised an excellent family, who became useful citizens. 
One of his daughters married Brother Thomas Harlass, who 
died in Merom, Ind., a few years ago. Elder Lucas, ofWav- 
erly, Iowa, speaks of him as a natural orator, with limited ed- 
ucation, but extraordinary power as a speaker. At the begin- 
ning of his sermons, he was pale and trembling, but when 
warmed up and during the closing exhortation, the congrega- 
tion would often be standing on their feet forgetting all about 
time and the surrounding circumstances. He had a tall and 
commanding form. 

George Seager. (1833 — 1865.) — George was born m 
Phelps, Ontario County, N. Y., December 18, 1833, began to 
preach in 1851, and was ordained in the Northern Wisconsin 
Conference. In 1864, he was drafted into the United States 7 
service, in the War of the Rebellion, and became a member 
of Company F. Wisconsin Cavalry. He died of erysipelas at 
Jeffersonville, Ind., April 10, 1865, aged thirty-two years. 

Robert Seeper was a member of the Auglaize Conference t 
O. He died about 1854. 

Joshua Selby. (1783 — 1871.) — Joshua was born in the 
State of Maryland, February 10, 1783, moved to Bourbon 
County, Ky., in 1804 or '5, and was married to Miss McCalla, 
October 22, 1807. She died in 1824, and in 1826, he was 
married to Elizabeth McCormick. The next year, he moved 
to Rush County, Ind., where he remained till death. In 1808, 
he joined the Christian Church, in Harrison County, Ky., and 
soon after, began to preach. He never made preaching his 
life work, but he continued a faithful local preacher for more 
than sixty years. He was a quiet, peaceable man, a good 
counselor, a member of the Hurricane Christian Church, in 
Rush County, Ind., and of the Central Conference, the same 
state. He died at his home in Rush County, October 26, 
1871, aged eighty-nine years. 

Elias Seward was born not far from the year 1800, and 
lived the most of his life in Hamilton and Butler counties, O. 
He was ordained in 1847, and labored in the neighboring 
churches for about twenty years. For the want of sufficient 
support to maintain an expensive family and the approach of 



SEWARD— SHARRARD. SVd 

old age, he did not labor much in the latter part of his life. 
He died in Hamilton, Butler County, O., in 1867 or '68. In 
person, the Elder was a tall, fine-looking man, of a mild and 
pleasant disposition. 

Shakle was an aged man and a faithful minister 



in the State of Kentucky. He died many years ago. 

John Shannon. (1783 — 1852.) — This Elder was born in 
1783, was converted at the Cane Ridge Revival , in Kentucky, 
in 1802, and became a preacher soon after. He died in Lick- 
ing County, O., September, 1852, aged sixty-nine years. He 
was a member of the Central Conference, O. 

THE SHARRARDS. James W. Sharrard was born 
not far from 1780, was converted among the Baptists, and 
labored in that connection for some time, as a public speaker. 
He afterward joined the Christians and continued a licentiate 
minister for many years, but in 1838, he was ordained in Can- 
ada, Elder O. E. Morrill officiating. He spent the most of his 
ministerial life in Canada. Although at the age of twenty-one, 
he could hardly read, yet such was the grasp of his mind and 
ambition, that he became not only a good English scholar, but 
also versed in the Greek language. He was a talented man, 
and acquired a good property. He died in Canada, not far 
from 1860, at the age of about eighty years. . 

Elijah H. Sharrard. (1811 — 1848.) — Elijah, a son of 
the preceding, was born in Pickering, Canada West, in 1811, 
was converted in 1824, and joined the Christian Church at the 
above place, in 1832, the very day he was twenty-one years 
old. He left home on a preaching tour, and joined the New 
York Central Conference. From 1836 to 1845, he lived and 
labored, chiefly, in Onondaga and adjoining counties in New 
York. He devoted the most of his time to preaching. At 
the latter date, he went to Green County, Wis., where he 
preached considerable, while making a farm preparatory to re- 
moving his family, a wife and two children, to his new home. 
In 1848, he returned to his home for his family, but while 
making preparation for the journey, he was taken sick with 
typhus fever, of which he died January 9, 1848. The Elder 
had more than ordinary talent as a preacher, and was entirely 
devoted to the work. 
20 



314 SHAW. . 

THE SHAWS. Calvin Shaw. ( 1851.)— Cal- 
vin was originally from the State of Vermont, but died in the 
bounds of the Northern New York Conference. In 1823, he 
was ordained at Williston, Vt. , and labored faithfully in that 
state until 1843, when he moved to the neighborhood where he 
died. He had many afflictions in the latter part of his life. 
In 1848, he buried his wife and some other near relations 
about the same time. He died suddenly at his home, July 23, 
1851. Elder Ira Allen speaks highly of his virtues. 

Elijah Shaw. (1793 — 1851.) — This was one of the most 
devoted, active, and talented ministers in the ranks of the 
Christians, not only in one department of labor, but in all. It 
seemed all the same to him, whether as a pioneer, a missionary, 
in the hut of the peasant, as pastor of a fashionable church in 
a proud city, as editory evangelist, traveling agent, or whatnot, 
he was the plain, devoted Elijah Shaw. 

He was born in Kensington, N. H., December 19, 1793. He 
was from a decidedly pious familv. He professed religion at 
the age of sixteen, and was baptized by Elder Douglas Far- 
num. Two years after, in 1811, he entered the ministry, and 
was successful at once. Many were converted under his 
preaching the first years of his ministry. He was ordained 
March 31, 1814. For two years after his ordination, he la- 
bored in New England as an evangelist. In 1816, he went as 
a missionary to the State of New York, then a comparatively 
new country, and entirely new as to his own denomination, ex- 
cept a small portion in the eastern part of the state. During 
this time, he was often a companion of Elders Millard and 
Badger. On one occasion, when his garments were much the 
worse for wear, Elder Millard asked him : "Brother Shaw, 
don't you feel like going home ?" His answer was, ' 'I hardly 
dare to think of home. Home has no comparison with this 
place." On his first visit to New York, he was absent thirteen 
months. After a short visit, and constant preaching among 
his old friends, he returned the second time to his field of la- 
bor in the then far West, where his work was blessed in the 
conversion of hundreds. In June, 1818, he returned again to 
his home in New England, and July 16, he was married at 
Andover, N. H., to Miss Julia True, a sister of Elder William 
True, a companion of the Elder in a part of his journeys in 
New England and New York. She was a kindred spirit with 
her husband. Immediately after their marriage, they started 



SHAW. 315 

to their distant western home in the State of New York, where 
they continued to live until 1827. There is no calculating the 
amount of good accomplished by Elder Shaw, during these 
years. At the latter date, he returned to New England, after 
spending eleven years of his early life in the states of New 
York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and in Upper Canada, countries 
then on the frontier. Many were the hardships endured by the 
early ministers in those times, and Elder Shaw endured his 
full share of them, but it mattered not to him, as long as he 
saw souls converted. From 1827 to 1835, he labored mostly 
in New England, sometimes as pastor, and sometimes as an 
evangelist. Part of this time he was pastor of the Christian 
Church in Portland, Me. He traveled extensively through 
every state in New England, attending general meetings and 
conferences, every where bearing the brunt of the labor. The 
wonder is, that a man of so delicate a constitution could hold 
up under such constant work. While laboring with all his 
might in the conversion of sinners, he never lost sight of gen- 
eral measures that would add to the better organization of the 
denomination. 

In 1835, he became editor of the "Christian Journal", a new 
periodical, started in Exeter, N. H. He continued his labor 
as resident editor of the "Journal" (and finally "Herald and 
Journal") for five years. Then in 1848, he moved his family 
to Lowell, Mass., where he became pastor of the church in 
that place, still continuing his contribution to the paper as one 
of its editors. In 1841, he traveled as missionary in the ser- 
vice of the New England Missionary Society, and in 1842, he 
became connected with the New Durham Academy as agent to 
raise funds. We next find him in Franklin, N. H., then in 
New Bedford, Mass. It is almost impossible, in a small space, 
to mention his various labors. From 1842 to 1850, were, per- 
haps, the most active years of his life, not excepting the eleven 
years of his early life in the West. In 1850, he made another 
journey to the West, accompanied by his wife. He passed 
over the field of his early labors, and met hundreds of his spir- 
itual children and friends of other years. While on this 
trip, he went as far as the State of Michigan, and attended a 
session of the New York Central Christian Conference, at Hon- 
eoye Falls, where he met the venerable Badger, struck down 
with paralysis, very near the end of his journey, and David 
Millard, with many other co-workers of his early life. His 
journey was a perfect ovation, and thousands of the younger gen- 



316 SHAW— SHEPHERD. 

eration gazed with veneration upon him who had been the 
spiritual guide of their fathers and mothers. The writer of 
these notes had the privilege, at that time, of witnessing some 
of these reunions, and of graspirjg the hands of these old pa- 
triarchs, Shaw, Badger, and Millard, at the Central Confer- 
ence, N. Y. , at Honeoye Falls ; the two former passed away 
soon, but Father Millard remained with us twenty- three years 
longer. This journey, while it lasted, stimulated both mind 
and body of the old veteran, but after his return, it was found 
there was more loss than gain to his health and strength. Ac- 
cording to his custom, however, he entered upon his duties as 
usual. He finally moved to Fall River, Mass., with the pur- 
pose of resting for awhile, but he had been so accustomed to 
labor, that inactivity did not agree with him. He took charge 
of the church at Portsmouth, R. I., intending to preach on 
Sundays, and rest through the week. His wife was taken sick 
and lingered for weeks upon the brink of the grave. The 
loving husband w T atched unremittingly by the sick bed of his 
companion. The labor and the anxiety were too much for h's 
overworked constitution. Before the full recovery of his wife, 
Elder Shaw was taken sick, and after waiting for two weeks as 
patient as a child, he died May 5, 1851, in his fifty-eighth year. 
The writings of Elder Shaw would make a valuable volume 
if collected and published together, as he always wrote on prac- 
tical subjects. His "Memoirs," compiled by his daughter, is 
an interesting volume. It is a clear index of the character of 
our subject. 

THE SHEPHERDS. Abeam Shepheed died near Me- 
chanicsburg, Champaign County, O., about 1828. He w T as 
then a very old man, having been born about 1750. He 
moved from Kentucky to Ohio. He is said to have been a 
very good man. He preached constantly to the last. 

Maek H. Shepheed. (1810 — 1839.) — This young man 
had a short but brilliant career in the ministry. He was born 
in 1810, and was raised in Deerfield, N. H. He professed re- 
ligion in 1827, and commenced preaching the year following. 
In 1830, he moved to the State of Maine, and for five years 
continued his pastoral relation with churches in that state, 
where he was very successful in the conversion of sinners and 
the strengthening of the denomination. In 1835, he moved 
to Athens, and labored one year, with fair prospects of future 



SHEPHERD— SHIDLER. 317 

usefulness, when he was taken with bleeding at the lungs, 
from the effect of which he lost his voice. He was an excel- 
lent man and an able preacher. He died May 5, 1839, at the 
age of twenty-nine years. 

George Shtdler. (1776 — 1828.) — This faithful and en- 
ergetic preacher was born in Washington County, Penn., on 
May 12, 1776, and was brought up in the same community. 
He was married to Abigail Wolverton when young, and soon 
after, moved to Athens County. O., where he continued to re- 
side till 1806, when he moved to Preble County, the same 
state. The first year of his residence in Preble County, he 
raised a crop of corn in the midst of the forest trees, with no 
fence around the patch, and had a tolerable crop. 

Hitherto, he had never made a profession of religion ; but 
in 1808, under the preaching of Elder David Purviance and 
others, he gave his heart to the Lord. With a man of the 
temper of our subject to be converted meant to be a worker in 
the cause. He was baptized the same day that he professed 
religion, and from that time became an active worker in the 
church, both publicly and privately. In 1810, he was or- 
dained by Elders David Purviance and Abraham Vorhees. 
He at once entered into the active work of a traveling preacher. 
He made long trips to Indiana, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania, 
and his labors were blessed in the conversion of many. His 
principal work was in his own state, in Preble and adjoining 
counties. At the time of his death he was pastor of Seven 
Mile Church, near his home, and of Bank Spring, further 
away. He had charge of these two churches for many years, 
and they had prospered well under his fostering care. His 
talent was of the exhortation kind, though he was a plain, 
practical, and efficient preacher as well. He was very popu- 
lar among his neighbors as a straightforward and upright man, 
and to this day, more than fifty years after his death, bis name 
is a popular one among the older residents of the community 
in which he lived. 

He died suddenly. Having been in Hamilton, Butler 
County, on business, he was taken sick on his way home. He 
stopped at the house of Brother Pottinger, where every atten- 
tion was given him ; but he grew worse and worse every day. 
His family was with him, and so were many of the neighbors; 
but all remedies and nursing failed. He died August 27, 
1828, aged fifty-two years. 



318 SHIELD— SHOEMAKER. 

John Shield was, by birth, an Irishman. But whatever 
faith he professed in his youth, at an early day he became an 
active minister in the Christian Church, in the State of Ohio. 
About 1816, he lived in Columbus and preached much in 
that neighborhood. He was highly respected for his firmness 
and ability as a Christian and minister. He had some of the 
IHsh brogue in his speech to the last. He was a large man, 
and a fluent and positive speaker. He taught school in Col- 
umbus. He was a man of culture and great self-control, and 
was Justice of the Peace in Franklin County before Columbus 
was laid out. He moved to New Orleans, where he and all 
his family died of yellow fever, his wife dying first. A piece 
of poetry was composed by the husband, on her death, called 
"Shield's Lamentations." 

Jacob Shively. — This was a minister laboring in the State 
of Kentucky, about 1825. I find, by the periodicals of that 
day, that a minister of that name preached in Columbia 
County, Penn., in 1833, likely the same person. He has 
been dead many years. 

Ephraim Shockley. (1794 — 1842.) — Ephraim was born 
about 1794, and was a resident of Fair Haven, Mass. , for a time. 
He moved from the latter place to Honyeoye Falls, N. Y., 
and united with the New York Central Christian Conference 
about 1830. He was a man of great moral and christian 
worth. He died at Honyeoye Falls, N. Y., June 25, 1842, 
aged forty-eight years. 

Leonard Shoemaker. (1812 — 1874.) — This brother 
was born December 12, 1812, was converted, and began to 
preach in 1837. He was married to Maragret McKinney, a 
daughter of Elder James McKinney, of Pleasant Hill, "Mont- 
gomery County, Ind. In his early ministry, he labored in the 
bounds of the Western Indiana Conference, then moved to 
the Miami Reserve, in Howard County, and connected him- 
self with the Tippecanoe Conference. Later in life, he moved 
again to the bounds of the former conference, and became 
connected with that body. In 1857, he moved to Merom, 
Sullivan County, in order to avail himself of the advantages of 
education in the Merom Bluff Academy, an institution of learn- 
ing that preceded Union Christian College in that village. 
He vas very p- rive in the work of bringing the above college 



SHOEMAKER— SHOW. 31 9 

to Merom. He continued to live in the village, preaching in 
the surrounding churches until within a few years of his death, 
and until his five children, four daughters and one son, were 
educated, when he moved to Waynetown, in the same state, 
and where he died September 21, 1874, in consequence of a 
fall from his carriage, while acting as an agent of the Churcn 
Extension Society. 

The Elder was not an educated man, but he had advanced 
ideas, and was a great lover of education. He was a large, 
heavy man, full of earnestness in his pulpit work. He was 
also a self-sacrificing man, as were most of his comrades in the 
new West. All through life he was in limited circumstances, 
yet such was his estimate of education that he moved to Merom, 
as he expressed it, for no other purpose than to give the chil- 
dren, tliat God had given him, the advantages of education, 
which he could not give them in the place he lived before 
moving. He succeeded well. He brought up five well edu- 
cated children ; the son graduated with honor in Union Chris- 
tian College, and became a prominent minister in the same 
church. The four daughters became good scholars, and two 
of them married ministers. The Elder himself was a success- 
ful preacher, an able revivalist, and was very useful to the end 
of his days. He was also a believer in order and system in 
church matters. He was a good man, and though he died in 
his strength, yet he had, for thirty-seven years, performed a 
good vvork in the church and in society. 

C. W. Show. (1792— 1869.)— This Elder was born Sep- 
tember 1, 1792, and began to preach in 1822. He moved 
from Laurel Hill, Penn., to Hardin County, O., in 1837. He 
carried the same spirit of activity that he had exercised so 
much to the interest ol the cause in Pennsylvania with him to 
the State of Ohio. He helped to organize the Auglaize Chris- 
tian Conference in 1838, of which he continued an active mem- 
ber until death. He was the means of gathering scattered 
members in Hardin and Marion counties, O., and to organ- 
ize them into Christian Churches, and assisted largely in build- 
ing for them houses of worship. For many years before his 
death, he was so afflicted with rheumatism, that all his preach- 
ing was done in a sitting posture. His wife died two years be- 
fore her husband. They never had any children of their own, 
but they brought up four or five children that were given tht;..j > 
and did a good part by them. 



320 SHOW— SILSBY. 

The Elder was a benevolent man. Beside assisting many 
churches in building meeting houses, and ministers who were 
engaged in preaching, and the poor of his own community, he 
donated, a few years before his death, tor religious, educational, 
and benevolent purposes, the sum of $4,500 at one time, and 
willed $1,000 more at his death. The rest of his property, he 
donated for destitute churches near his own home. He died 
September 12, 1869, in Hardin County, O., aged seventy- 
seven years. He was a tall, well-formed man, with energetic 
utterance. As a minister, his usefulness consisted more in as- 
sisting others than in what he did personally. His preaching 
was deliberate, more in a conversational tone than in the im- 
passioned declamation of public speakers, generally. 

John Showers. ( 1872.) — This brother was a min- 
ister in the eastern part of the State of New York. He la- 
bored for some time in Fulton and Saratoga counties, in that 
state, where he was quite successful. He was received a mem- 
ber of the New York Eastern Conference in 18 12, and died in 
1872. 

THE SHURTLIFFS. James Shurtliff.— We find the 
first account of this brother in Lewis County, Va. , in 1827, in 
the same neighborhood as his brother Oliver. From 1830 to 
1835, we see an account of his laboring in Meigs and adjoining 
counties, as co-laborer with Barzillai Miles and others. 

Oliver Shurtliff, a brother of the above, lived in Freder- 
ick, Lewis County, Va., where he buried his wife in 1827. 

William Sibley. (1813— 1873.)— This Elder was bom 
in 1813, was converted in June, 1831, commenced preaching in 
North Rush, N. Y., in April, 1843, and was ordained Novem- 
ber 11, the same year. After thirty years of faithful labor in 
the ministry, he died in North Rush, the place where he began 
his ministry, March 28, 1873. 

Samuel Silsby was converted under the labors of Elder 
Joseph Badger, in 1818. He labored with success at Chili, 
N. Y., in 182-1. In 1839, he was living in Kochester, Mich., 
and occasionally writing for our periodicals. From Michigan 
he moved to the State of Iowa, and the last account we have 
of him, he was living with one of his daughters in that state. 



SILSBY— SIMONTON. 321 

It is reported that he is dead, though we have no particulars 
of the event. 

Eichard Simonton. (1787 — 1849.) — This minister of 
Christ filled a wide sphere in the Christian Church, in the 
-State of Ohio, for many years, and though not a learned man, 
nor in any way noted as a great orator, yet his good, sound 
sense and exemplary deportment gave him a power that few 
others possessed. He was born in North Carolina in 1787, of 
poor but respectable parentage. His parents moved to War- 
ren County, O., about 1801, where Richard grew up, a lively 
boy, full of fua and innocent mischief. About that time, the 
Christians held meetings in the house of Jedediah Tingle, near 
the village of Lebanon, the county seat of Warren County. 
Great crowds attended these meetings, and scores were con- 
verted. Among the converts was Richard Simonton, who 
gave his heart to God, and soon became as active in religion 
as he had before been in fun and frolic. He at once became 
a zealous worker in these meetings, and took public part in 
the exercises. 

About this time, he was married to Mary Hatfield, a lady 
of great moral worth, who became a valuable help to her hus- 
band during his active ministry. Soon after their marriage, 
they moved to the adjoining county of Preble, where he con- 
tinued to sing and exhort, to the edification of the congrega- 
tions. Not long after, he moved back to Warren County, 
where he continued to live the balance of his life. After his 
return to Warren County, he was ordained in the Bethany 
Christian Church, of which he became pastor, and continued 
in the same relation till near the close of his earthly pilgrim- 
age. The Fellowship Church, in the same neighborhood, to- 
gether with the Sycamore and Burlington churches, in Ham- 
ilton County, were the societies that received the principal 
part of the Elder's life labors, and well did* he serve them. 
All were strong churches during his life. Soon after the com- 
mencement of his ministry, he became one of the most promi- 
nent members of the Miami Conference, O., and, doubtless, 
his influence as a member had much to do with the growth of 
the churches within its territory. 

The Elder lived near the village of Lebanon during his en- 
tire married life, except the short time he spent in Preble 
County. He had a small farm, but never suffered his labor 
on the place to interfere with his religious duties. His educa- 



322 SIMONTON— SINE. 

lion was limited, but his strong and active mind overcame, in 
a great degree, his early deficiency in this respect. While he 
did not pretend to master abstract subjects of Theology, his 
masterly manner of speaking, and his strong common sense, 
together with his thorough knowledge of human nature, made 
him an opponent not to be easily vanquished. His faith in 
God was unshaken. He believed in the efficacy of prayer, 
and while engaged in this, his whole soul was drawn out in 
his petitions. While he was an earnest believer in heart-felt 
religion and a thorough cod version of the whole man, he was 
not of a gloomy or morbid disposition ; on the other hand, he 
was full of wit and cheerfulness, sometimes bordering on ec- 
centricity. This made his discourses lively, and drew many 
to hear him that might otherwise have staid away from meet- 

His first wife died in 1834, of cancer, and some years later r 
he married a widow lady, by the name of Smith, with whom 
he lived happily to the end of his days, and who survived him. 
He raised a large family of children, one of whom, Elder Hi- 
ram Simonton, is yet (1880) a prominent minister of the same 
church. For about thirty years, he was esteemed one of the 
strong and reliable ministers of the church in the south-western 
part of Ohio, the field of his labors. He died September 24, 
1849, aged sixty-three years. 

Christy Sine. (1800 — 1859.) — This brother, for many 
years, was a leading Christian minister in the Shenandoah Val- 
ley, Va. He was the pastor of several churches, taught a se- 
lect school on Timber Ridge, held many debates with minis- 
ters of other churches, and wrote a great deal for the periodi- 
cals of the denomination. In a word, he was a stirring, live 
man in the cause. 

He was born not far from the year 1800, and began to 
preach about 1827, in Hampshire County, Va., having been 
married some years previous. About 1830, he moved to the 
vicinity of the Timber Ridge Christian Church. Here he 
taught a school of some seventy or eighty pupils for seven or 
eight years, preached in the surrounding communities, where 
many revivals followed, and several new churches were organ- 
ized through his instrumentality. He continued his pastoral 
relations with the Timber Ridge Church for about twenty-two 
years. 

In hi? personal appearance, the Elder was a tall, heavy- 



SINE— SMITH. 323 

built man, with a dark complexion. He had a very command- 
ing appearance in the pulpit. Although his voice was some- 
what harsh, yet his utterance was fluent and clear, and he 
generally seemed to be master of his subject. In his inter- 
course, he was sociable, and his conversation was usually on 
religious suojects. His greatest forte, aside from religion, was 
history, of which he was very fond, and of which he made u§e 
largely in his sermons. He was, by trade, a saddler, an occu- 
pation he followed part of the time for many years. After 
the death of his first wife, in 1845, he married again. The 
name of his second wife was Nancy Murphy. He died of dys- 
pepsia, which turned into dropsy, about the year 1859. 

Jame3 Sisk. (1809 — 1867.)— James was born in 1809, 
commenced preaching about 1842, and continued a faithful 
minister till death. He lived for manv years in Randolph 
and Jay counties, Ind. , and was an acceptable member of the 
JBluffton Conference. He was a delicate looking man, unas- 
suming in his appearance, but his success and perseverance in 
the work were wonderful. He generally carried on a small 
farm, as his salary was not sufficient for the support of his 
family ; yet he would suffer nothing to interfere with his ap- 
pointments. He was very successful in the conversion of sin- 
ners, as his trust was entirely in the Lord. He died April 
27, 1867. 

Peleg Sisson. ( —1826.)— In the "Christian Regis- 
ter" of 1836, I find that this minster died October 25, 1826, 

Thomas Sliter was a licentiate or unordained preacher in 
the Miami Reserve Conference, Ind. He died about 1863. 

THE SMITHS. Daniel Smith. (1784— 1827.)— The 
subject of this sketch was born in New Hampshire in 1784, 
and was one of our early ministers. He had been in the min- 
istry several years at the time of his death. He died at Ports- 
mouth, N. H., March 13, 1827, in the forty-third year of his 
age. 

David Smith was a member of the New York Central 
Conference. He died about 1840. ■•-.**•■ 

D. F. Smith died at West Campton, N. H., before the 
year 1875. i 



324 SMITH. 

Elias Smith, (1769— 1846.)— This indefatigable worker 
in the canse of the Reformation that gave rise to the Christian 
Church in New England was of Baptist and Congregational 
parentage. He tells us his father was a Baptist and his mother 
a firm Congregationalist. He was born at Lynn, in the State 
of Connecticut, June 17, 1769. Through the influence of his 
mother and her brother, and only by the mere consent of his 
father, Elias was christened early in life, though much against 
his own will. He always looked back upon the act with de- 
testation and abhorence. 

In 1782, his father .moved to Woodstock, in the State of 
Vermont, when Elias was thirteen years old. At this time, and 
even before he left the State of Connecticut, his mind was 
much exercised on religious subjects. In the beginning of the 
Revolutionary War, when he was only five years old, the pecu- 
liar Northern Lights that appeared about that time, and was 
regarded by many as a token ol something terrible, had a great 
influence on his young mind. At the age of sixteen, he was 
converted, though, as it was common then in New England, he 
had great doubt of the reality of the work. In 1789, he was 
baptized in Woodstock, by Elder Grow, of the Baptist Church, 
and at the same time joined that people. Soon after, his mind 
became much exercised on the subject of preaching, and after 
much resistance on his part, he yielded to the divine call, as 
he regarded it, and preached his first sermon in July, 1790. 
At that time he was teaching school, an occupation which he 
followed for several years. Doubts of his call to the work re- 
turned after this, and he finally decided to preach no more. It 
is useless to describe all the perplexity of his mind during this 
period. He was finally satisfied of the reality of the "call to 
preach" by a singular dream, which he says was verified in al- 
most every particular. From this time, he never doubted his 
mission. When convinced that God had called him to this 
great work, regardless of all other considerations, he gave up 
his school, bid his parents, kindred, and friends farewell, and 
proceeded upon his mission in the name of the Lord. His suc- 
cess as a preacher was great from the beginning. His first 
field of labor was Piermont, Vt., then Haverhill, Mass., Lee 
and New Market, N. H., and Salsbury and Woburn, Mass. 
Indeed, he held meetings all around, but those mentioned 
above were the central places of his labor during that period. 
He soon extended his labors as far as Boston. In the latter 
city, he received much encouragement from Dr. Stillman and 



SMITH. 325 

Elder Tillman, two prominent Baptist ministers of the town. 
His mind w r as much exercised on the doctrine of election, and 
kindred subjects, but on the whole, he passed a sound or- 
thodox examination in the Baptist Church, In 1792, he was 
ordained at Lee, N. H. The principal ministers engaged in 
the exercises were Dr. Shepherd, Elder Baldwin, and others, 
all prominent preachers in the Baptist Church. 

January 7, 1793, he was married to Miss Mary Burleigh , of 
Lee, 1ST. H. He was now in good circumstances for a young 
minister. The churches were well pleased with his labor, his 
income was sufficient for his maintainance, and all things 
seemed to promise him a bright future. In the midst of all 
his prosperity, however, the Elder was unhappy. He felt that 
he was bound, that the people of his congregation had bought 
him. He was longing for freedom. He resigned his charge 
of the churches, to the regret of his people. After his release 
in 1794, he traveled through many parts of Massachusetts and 
Connecticut, and in company with his father, he paid a visit 
to his birth place in Lynn, in the latter state. He next took 
charge of the Baptist Church in Woburn, Mass. , and was in- 
stalled as pastor there in 1798. These ceremonies were not to 
his taste, but the reasoning of Dr. Stillman, in whom he had 
great confidence, prevailed. Now we see plain Elias Smith a 
regular clergyman of an aristocratic church, with broadcloth 
garments, three cornered hat, and all the paraphernalia of a 
fashionable minister. It was not in the nature of the man, 
however, to bear this torment long. He left Woburn in 1801, 
not knowing where to go or what to do, only that he was de- 
termined to preach a free gospel in his own way, accountable 
to none but God alone. From this time until his entrance 
upon the practice of medicine, in 1817, a period of sixteen 
years, his life vas such a constant scene of labor, persecution, 
and hardship, that it is a wonder his iron constitution did not 
break dowm under the burden. In 1802, in connection with 
others, he stood upon the platform of a free gospel and the 
right of private judgment to all in matters of religion. Be- 
sides constant preaching, pamphlet after pamphlet proceeded 
from his busy pen. These pamphlets generally bore hard on 
the ministers of the day. One of his first printed productions 
was a comparison of the apostles of Christ with the clergymen 
of his time. Another was the "Ministers Looking-glass." 
These subjects, with many similar ones, were handled in the 
Elder's peculiar racy style. As might be expected, these 



326 SMITH. 

brought on rejoinders from the persons assailed, and many bit- 
ter invectives were pronounced against him. Many friends 
turned from him. Bad reports were circulated against him, 
especially his financial affairs at Woburn. He was sued, and 
at one time there was fair prospect of his being imprisoned for 
debt. These financial troubles were caused by his having, 
sometime before, entered into mercantile relation with others, 
and come out sadly embarrassed. It is true he came out hon- 
orably, but the reports continued. Mobs were raised against 
him in Portsmouth, N. H., and his life was really in danger 
at times, but the more he was persecuted the harder he la- 
bored, and the more friends came out on his side ; so while he 
had many bitter enemies, he had also many intense friends. 

The church organized by him in Portsmouth, N. H., in 
1803, of only four or five members, soon grew to a member- 
ship of one hundred and fifty, and the probability is, that more 
than half of these would have died, if necessary, with their pas- 
tor. There was no half-way work in this movemeut. In 1804, 
the Baptist Church at Woburn, disowned him, Elias claiming 
that he had withdrawn from that church two years before. In 
1805, Elder Abner Jones, who had proclaimed the Bible alone 
as the perfect creed of Christians, seven years previous, visited 
him at Portsmouth, and continued his labor for several weeks. 
From this time the two men became hearty co-workers in the 
Reformation. While in this place, owing to the publication of 
an anonymous pamphlet, supposed to have been written by 
Elias Smith, he came very nearly being mobbed several times. 
At one time, while preaching from the text, "Ye have not yet 
resisted unto blood," the mob surrounded the church and but 
for the prompt action of the congregation, serious consequences 
would have followed ; his friends gathered around him twenty 
deep, and conducted him to his home, which they watched 
through the night. 

In the same year, he commenced a publication of a religious 
periodical, issued quarterly, which, in 1808, was converted into 
the "Herald of Gospel Liberty," the publication of which is 
continued to this day (1880). This enterprise was suggested 
by Hon. Isaac Wilber, of Compton, R. L, a member o± Con- 
gress at the time, and a plan was decided upon, but after re- 
flecting on this, the Elder decided to take the responsibility 
upon himself and discard the arrangements with Wilber and 
others. The subscription list uumbered 274 at first, but soon 
increased to 1,500. In 1810, he was induced to move the 



SMITH. 327 

paper and his family from Portsmouth, N. H., to Portland, 
Me., a step that he always regretted. The next year, he again 
moved, this time to Philadelphia, Penn., and in 1812, he pre- 
pared and published his "Bible Dictionary." During his stay in 
that city, he not only published this book, the "Herald/' and 
other productions of his pen, but had charge of the church and 
made extensive journeys to Virginia, North Carolina, and 
other states. But while here, his expenses were greater than 
his income, from sickness in his family and the outlays made 
to publish the works that he wrote. His debts were pressing 
heavily upon him, and for the purpose of decreasing his ex- 
penses, he determined to return to Portsmouth, N. H., and 
took -his wife with him, that they might make arrangements 
to move back. She finished her visit before he did, and returned 
to Philadelphia under the care of Elder Plummer. Elder 
Smith was taken sick soon after with the typhoid fever, and 
before his recovery, his faithful wife died, and one of his 
daughters was seriously ill, although she afterward recovered. 
He was now surrounded with trouble and sorrow on every 
hand. A short time before his wife's death, he had written to 
her to be ready to return to Portsmouth by a certain day. His 
debts were large and the money due him for papers and other 
things not easy to be obtained. As soon as he recovered, he 
began to preach and write with his former energy, and the 
thousands who heard his sermons or read his productions at 
this time had no conception of the sore anxiety and trouble 
by which he was weighed down. In the latter part of 1814, 
he was married again to Rachel Thurber, of Providence, R. I. 
From the foregoing we may judge as to what w T ere some of 
the reasons why he took the course he did in 1816. At this 
time, he was forty -seven years old, his family was large, and 
his debts were of great magnitude to one in his circumstances. 
He was then in the zenith of his physical powers, but his la- 
bors for the last fourteen years had been immense enough, 
indeed, to break down a person of less fortitude, and the won- 
der is that both mind and body had not become a wreck. 
Moreover, the system of church finances, which he and his co- 
laborers had encouraged, believing that God would provide 
means of support, was now very much against him, although, 
had his family been smaller, or had he not been embarrassed 
by the debts incurred in the publication of his books and pa- 
per, he might have done differently. As it was, we, at the 
present day, can hardly conceive of any plan for supporting 



328 SMITH. 

his family different from the one he adopted. It is well known 
that, with all his talent and energy, he lacked sufficient stabil- 
ity to succeed, or as Elder Moses How says, "If Elias Smith 
had the stability of Abner Jones, he would certainly be con- 
sidered one of the greatest men of his time." 

From 1816 to 1840, he practiced medicine, preaching very 
seldom, although he wrote a great deal on the subject of med- 
icine. For twenty-three years of this time he was not con- 
nected with any denomination whatever, although he advoca- 
ted Universalism a part of this time. In 1840, he again uni- 
ted with the Christian Church, and it was his intention then,, 
at seventy-one years of age, to enter the work he had left 
twenty-four years before, and with the same zeal. He 'was in 
good health, a hale, hearty old man. but the habits of the pre- 
ceding years, the absence of old associates, and the lack of 
confidence on the part of the brotherhood prevented the accom- 
plishment of much good in the last years. He died at Lynn, 
Mass., June 29, 1846, aged seventy-seven years. 

Much of the character of Elder Smith, as a man, writer, and 
minister, may be seen in the preceding pages ; but his true 
greatness, originality, and boldness are to be witnessed in the 
results of what was a mighty work, accomplished in an age of 
sectarian bigotry, and under most unfavorable circumstances. 
Every one has defective qualities, and the Elder was no ex- 
ception to the rule. 

Gordon Smith. (1802 — 1848.) — Gordon was born in 
Meredith, N. H., October 28, 1802. At the age of twenty- 
four, he was converted, and began to preach soon after. He 
labored for twelve years in New England and Canada, with 
great success. In 1838, he moved to Ohio, where he labored 
zealously until 1845, his field of labor being, for the greater 
part of the time, in the northern part of the state. His last 
place of residence was in York, Sandusky County, O. In 
September, 1845, in company with his wife, he started on a 
journey through the East, intending to spend a year or so 
among the scenes of his former labors. While on the way, 
he was taken 'sick. He traveled for some days, until he ar- 
rived at the house of a friend, Josiah Lane, where he died, 
four weeks later, October 17, 1848, at the age of forty-three 
years. 

Hosea Smith, jr. (1792— 1854.)— This brother was the 
son of Hosea and Abigail (Hersey) Smith, both natives of 



SMITH. 329 

Massachusetts. Our subject was born in Pembroke, Me., 
whither his parents had moved some time before, in May, 
1792. His educational advantages were few, but he could 
read and write quite well, and was used to all manual labor. 

In 1811, he was married to Miss Mary Damon, and soon 
settled in Washington County, Me. , on some new land he had 
purchased, where they labored hard to secure for themselves a 
comfortable home. They were the parents of thirteen chil- 
dren, eleven of whom joined the Christian Church during their 
father's life time, and one (Elder E. P. Smith) has been a 
minister tor a number of years. In 1819, Mr. Smith and his 
wife were converted under the labors of Elders Newall and 
Nutt, were baptized by the latter, and at once became active 
and working members of the church. It was the great desire of 
Elder Nutt and others that Brother Smith shonld enter the 
ministry, and he was strongly urged to do this, but would not 
consent for some time, feeling his unfitness. In a few months 
he began his ministry as a licentiate, but was not ordained till 
1831. His principal fields of labor were at Charleston, Lubec, 
and Eastport, Me., the Province of New Brunswick, and he 
was especially successful at Deer Island, where he labored for 
twenty years. He died in Charlotte, Washington County, Me., 
March 7, 1854. 

He was peculiarly mild in his manners and disposition, and 
his great influence was due not so much to eloquence and bril- 
liancy as a speaker as to a pious, consistent life and the sym- 
pathy which he had for all in sorrow and trouble. His best 
gifts were shown in his pastoral relations. 

Jacob Smith was a minister in the Central Indiana Chris 
tian Conference. 

James Smith. ( 1841.) — James was a native of 

Virginia, and was of Methodist parentage. He was a member of 
that church, and commenced preaching in 1801. In 1807, he 
moved to Mt. Vernon, 0., where he remained until 1840. 
For twenty years of his stay in this place, he served as clerk of 
the county court, and was, for a time, the president of a bank, 
and although engaged in secular labors, he did not negle3t the 
work of the ministry, but preached whenever opportunity of- 
fered. In 1811, he became convinced of the fallacy of the 
doctrines of the trinity, and infant sprinkling, and the next 
year, he, with many others, left the Methodist Church, and in 
21 



330 SMITH. 

1813, were organized into a Christian Church by Elder George 
Alkire. Elder Smith still continued his labors as pastor with 
the same success as had characterized his past efforts. 

He practiced medicine for ten years before his death, at Mt. 
Sterling, O. He died in that place, haviug been thrown from 
a horse a few hours before, June 13, 1841. He was a man of 
more than ordinary talent, and his writings show much culture 
and power. His secular pursuits were a serious hinderance to 
a very active ministry, but for all his other interests he seemed 
to consider religion as the chief thing. 

John Smith. (1798 — 1841.) — John was a native of Ver- 
mont, was born in 1798, was converted in that state in 1812, 
commenced preaching before he was tweDty years of age, and 
had nearly completed his forty- third year when he died. The 
first years of his ministry he spent in traveling from place to 
place, and generally on foot, as he was very poor. In 1825, 
he was married to Miss Lucy Whitney, and in the same year, 
moved to Bangor, N. Y., where he labored faithfully for ten 
years, but in 1834, he was severely afflicted and for six years 
was unable to walk or stand. He bore his suffering with great 
fortitude, and was very happy to think that he could attend 
family prayers, and once in a great while could visit the house 
of God, and communicate so easily with his friends. He was 
greatly beloved by his flock, and many date their new birth to 
his prayers in their behalf. He died at his home in Bangor, 
N. Y., March 24, 1841. 

John Smith. (1803 — 1865.) — This brother was born in 
Pennsylvania in 1803. He embraced religion early in life, 
soon began to improve his gift, and was ordained in 1840. 
He spoke with a great deal of energy, and was more powerful 
in exhortations than in sermons requiring deep thought and 
logical reasoning. He was, in the beginniug of his ministry, 
a member of the Valley Virginia Christian Conference, but in 
1846, he joined the Rays Hill Pennsylvania Conference, and 
continued a member until his death in 1865. 

Joseph Smith. (1811 — 1850.) — Joseph was born in New 
Hampshire, in 1811. The last ten years of his life were spent 
in New Bedford, Mass., preaching, and a part of the time, ed- 
iting the "New Bedford Reporter," but becoming embarrassed 
in his business affairs, he went to California in 1 849 or '50, for 



SMITH. 331 

the purpose of improving his finances. He settled at Stockton, 
where he still labored in the cause of the Master. He died in 
the beginning of his usefulness in the above place, in June, 
1850, in his thirty-ninth year. 

Joseph Smith. (1790— 1843.)— Joseph was born in 1790, 
and brought up under the influence of the Methodist Church. 
He began his ministerial labors in that church, but in 1835, 
in consequence of a greater affinity of feeling and harmony of 
belief, he united with the Christian Church. He was bap- 
tized by Elder Benjamin Taylor soon after, and from that time 
until his death, his interests and labors were wholly for the lat- 
ter church. He died at Lyons, Mich., December 16, 1843. 
He practiced medicine during a few of the best years of his 
life. He stood high in the estimation of his neighbors as a 
benevolent and upright man. 

Joseph Smith is spoken of in a letter from Elder Shaw, in 
1834, as a good and devoted man, and had been in the minis- 
try for thirty years, or since 1804, and that he was well ad- 
vanced in years at the time of his death in 1834, at Kenne- 
bunk, Me. * 

Robinson Smith was a co-laborer of Elder Badger, in New 
York, and is mentioned in a letter of Elder Joseph Badger as 
having died about 1826, in Genesee County, N". Y. 

Sarah Smith. (1845 — 1872.) — Sarah was born in Ohio 
in 1845, was converted under the preaching of Elder Marts, 
of the Auglaize Conference, when fifteen years of age, and con 
tinued a humble follower of the Master until her death at 
Greenville, Mich., April 27, 1872, in her twenty-seventh year. 
She left, at her death, a volume of sermons, some prose writ- 
ings, and also some poetry. It is said by those who knew her, 
that she was an able speaker and expounder of the truths of 
the Bible. Dying so young, her usefulness was cut short. 

Uriah Smith was a brother of Elias Smith and was first a 
Baptist minister, but became a Christian preacher during the 
time of the Reformation. There are no dates either of his 
birth or death. 

W. D. Smith. (1836— 1878.)— This brother was born in 
1836, was converted under the labors of Elder Hayes, preached 



332 SMITH— SNETHEK 

in Clay County, Ind., through the influence of his spiritual 
father, in 1867, and was ordained at Merom in 1868. The 
boy was left an orphan in early life, and his educational privi- 
leges were not good. He spent three years in a cavalry com- 
pany in the War of the Rebellion. He was a distant relation 
of the celebrated Daniel Boone, the mighty hunter and war- 
rior. In the war he had many narrow escapes. When he 
began to preach, he entered into the work with all his might. 
In Clay and Owen counties, Ind., he had great success in win- 
ning souls to Christ. Revivals followed his labors everywhere. 
In 1876, he moved to Eastern Illinois, and labored with sev- 
eral churches in that part of the country with much success. 
He labored two years with the Jack Oak and other churches, 
and then moved to Arthur, McVille, and Mansfield. He or- 
ganized churches in the two latter places, and the work of the 
Lord was prospering in his hands. In the midst of his useful- 
ness, he was struck down with disease. He died of pneumonia, 
November 10, 1878, after a few days illness, leaving a wife 
and four children, with many friends, to mourn his departure. 

THE SNETHENS. Abraham Snethen. (1794—1877.) 
■ — In many respects, Abraham Snethen is the most noted man 
in the list of ministers in this volume. The compiler has had, 
at several times, an opportunity to hear from our subject a de- 
detailed history of the events of his peculiar early life, from 
his own lips. His career began in the wild woods of Ken- 
tucky, and he continued a pioneer man during his long life. 
The life of our brother reads much like a novel, yet it is very 
instructive as showing what a man of the least advantages of 
education, wealth, and culture can accomplish by following 
the true path. Many events in the life of our brother will 
appear strange, if not incredible, to those that never knew T but 
one phase of society. Few can realize the influence of super- 
stition on the lower classes in many rural districts, such as the 
native place of Snethen ; such as signs, witches, ghosts, lucky 
and unlucky days, and many other kinds offetichism, together 
with the pride they take in personal bravery, so that every 
community has its bully or best man in a fight, second best 
and so down to the lowest grade — the coward. Brother Sne- 
then had a full experience of all these, and such was the phil- 
osophic power of his mind that he turned them all to good ac- 
count, both in conversation and preaching ; like a man rising 
out of a mist and, from an elevated position, looking calmly 



SNETHEN. 333 

upon the medium whence he came, thus making his life-work 
in the service of God, strong upon the misfortunes of the past. 
Our subject was born in Bourbon County, Ky., January 15, 
1794. His father was from New Jersey, and his mother, 
whose maiden name was Castro, was born in Virginia. His 
parents moved to Biyant Station, Ky. , about the time it was 
Desieged by the Indians. They settled, finally, in the mount- 
ain part of Bourbon, on Goose and Grapevine creeks. The 
land was poor, the neighbors were poor and ignorant, and their 
priucipal means of supp3rt was hunting, and boiling saltpeter, 
from the different caves around. William Snethen, Abra- 
ham's father, was somewhat of a horse jockey, and our subject 
was brought up to that occupation. An event connected with 
horses, occurred when Abraham was a boy of fifteen. A fine 
young filly was taken sick, and as was the custom, the family 
concluded that the animal was bewitched. As the parents had 
to go away that day, Abraham was left in charge of the sick 
filly, and was strictly commanded to allow no person to have 
any fire or water on that day, as the witch herself (generally 
a woman) might be the one to ask for these, and if obtained, 
the colt must die. In a short time old Mother Cornega, a fast 
friend of the family and a good woman, came from a long dis- 
tance on foot, to visit the Snethens. About the first thing she 
asked of the bov, was for fire to light her pipe, then water to 
quench her thirst ; both were granted. The good woman went 
home, not suspecting the reputation she was gaining, the par- 
ents returned, found what had been done in their absence, and 
as they thought, who the witch was. The filly died, the boy 
got a whipping, and the warm friendship between Mother Cor- 
nega and the Snethens was blasted for life. 

Hitherto the boy had never been to meeting, for none was 
held within reach. In 1811, he went to a place on the south 
fork of the Kentucky River to gather corn, some forty miles 
from home. While at this place he quarreled with Ned Bow- 
man ; Ned's grandfather, old Cornelius Bowman, a Methodist 
preacher, held a meeting in the neighborhood. Abraham 
went to the meeting, not to hear preaching but to fight [Ned. 
During the sermon he was deeply convicted, gave up fighting 
Ned, threw away his cards and became a much better man, 
generally. Before this he had been a good fighter, though a 
small man, was an expert in dancing and card playing, and 
other games of chance ; and although a believer in witches, 
ghosts, signs, lucky and unlucky days, yet his pride led him to 



334 SNETHEN. 

defy all these, especially the witches, ever since he was whip- 
ped by his father for letting Mother Cornega have fire and 
water, and so lose the valuable filly. Indeed, he boasted of 
being a witch himself, and by some iugenious manipulation, 
such as shooting blood from the sun, he led some of his igno- 
rant neighbors to believe that he was versed in the black art. 
In 1812, there was a meeting held in his father's neighbor- 
hood, or, as it was called, the "diggins." It came around as fol- 
lows : James, or, as he was generally called, "Danger" Smith 
had married a wife who had been a member of a Methodist 
Church in her Virginia home. Samuel Brown, a traveling 
Methodist preacher, vvhile on his rounds, heard of this ex-sister, 
came to "Danger's" house and asked permission to preach in 
his dwelling. Smith consented — not that he cared anything 
about the meeting, but out of respect for his good wife. The 
meeting was annouuced many weeks ahead, but unfortunately 
before the time for holding it came, old "Danger" died. The 
minister came to time and the whole "diggins" were out; not 
so much to hear the preacher, as to see the show. Abraham 
was among the number, and to him it was his second meeting 
in life. The preacher began the service as usual, by reading 
and singing from his pocket Bible and hymn-book. Being a 
poor singer, and none of the congregation able to assist in that 
kind of singing, that part of the service was a failure. When 
the prayer came and the good man was kneeling on the rough 
and dirty floor, the performance was so odd that it produced 
a general titter in the congregation. To add to the consterna- 
tion at this time, Dan Sibers, a half-drunken ruffian, to show 
his smartness, moved forward taking hold of the preacher's 
hair with both hands, spoke in a deep gutteral voice, "Ain't I 
a roarer ?'' This was too much even for the pioneer minister ; 
he soon rose to his feet and closed the meeting with very few 
remarks. Off went the preacher over the hills. The congrega- 
tion dispersed to talk of the oddity of the service. Jim, a son 
of "Danger" Smith's, was at work bo '.ling saltpeter, as he did 
not care about the meeting, although he did not wish to op- 
pose it, as it was held by consent of his dead father. When 
Sibers and others told him what had occurred, Jim said it was 
wrong and that he must whip Sibers for his mean act. They 
fought ; Sibers was badly worsted and for a time lay as a dead 
man. All these confirmed the people, generally, that relig- 
ious meetings were bad things — something in the nature of 
witchcraft, and for the sake of peace, a decree was passed that 



SNETHEN. 835 

no meetings should be allowed in the "diggins" in the future. 
In 1827, when Snethen had become an earnest and successful 
minister, he returned to that place, and by reluctant consent, 
had permission to hold one meeting, the first held in the place 
since the Smith and Sibers fight. He told his experience. 
Had consent to preach again. The result was, he had great 
success, thirty-six of the simple mountaineers were soundly con- 
verted, and many more came to the conclusion that preaching 
the gospel was not the bad thing they had thought it to be. 
As Snethen could not stay, he gave up the church to old Billy 
Strong, a pioneer Baptist minister of the neighborhood. 

Abraham having heard in his mountain home of the great 
Ohio River, and a state of the same name on the other side, in 
1814, concluded, by way of an adventure, to go and see both. 
He went to Cincinnati ; it looked to him like a new world. He 
attended meeting. The old conviction of the Bowman meeting 
of 1811, came back. He was converted, and began to preach, 
but was a member of no church. In this state of mind he 
went back to Kentucky, but in 1815, settled at the mouth of 
the Big Miami Riv T er, in Ohio. May 3, 1815, he was married 
to Lydia Richard, in Butler County, O., but moved to Preble 
County, on Twin Creek, the next day. His wife was of New 
England parentage, was a moderate scholar, and became the 
teacher of her husband. In 1820, he was baptized by Elder 
George Shidler, the same year joined the Miami Ohio Confer- 
ence, and soon was ordained by Elders G, Shidler and D. 
Purviance. He continued his residence in Preble until 1835, 
when he moved to White County, Lid., and later in life, to 
Crooked Creek, near Logansport, where his wife died in 1870. 
In 1871, he moved to Kansas, where he labored for some time, 
but before his death, returned to Indiana. For awhile he was 
pastor of the Christian Church in Merom, the seat of Union 
Christian College. He died January 1, 1877, in his eighty- 
third year. 

Elder Snethen was a small man, blind in one eye, compactly 
built, and capable of great endurance. He had a philosoph- 
ical mind, a cheerful disposition, a clear and poetical imagina- 
tion, a musical voice, and a smooth and easy delivery. He 
was a natural orator, but as simple as a child. Wherever he 
labored, he was respected and loved by his congregations. 
For many years he was considered the father of the Tippecanoe 
Conference. As a pioneer preacher, he had few equals. Like 
most men of his class, no obstruction was too great for him to 



336 SNETHEN. 

overcome that he might reach his appointments. One reason 
he gave for being thus valiant in his course was, that when a 
young man, at one time, he and an another young man and 
two ladies, went to a dance across the Kentucky River, in the 
days of his folly. When they came to the stream, they found 
it full up to the banks, with a very strong current, the mush 
ice covering the entire surface and the canoe on the other side. 
After consulting awhile, Snethen proposed that the ladies 
should turn aside from sight and he would get the canoe. He 
stripped himself, swam across the angry stream, brought the 
canoe back in safety, took his companions over, and enjoyed the 
dance. Years after that, when he came to the Wabash or 
other streams in similar condition, on his way to an appoint- 
ment, if, for a moment, he thought of turning back, the re- 
membrance of his energy to serve the devil, as he expressed it, 
came up, and the question arose : "Did I swim the Kentucky 
River to go to a dance, and shall I turn back when I have an 
appointment to preach Christ to perishing sinners ?" 

Since 1832, he often w r ent by the name of the "bare- footed 
preacher." During this year, he attended a camp meeting at 
Honey Creek Church, in Miami County, O. He was very 
poorly clad, and had no shoes on his feet. The meeting, for 
some time, continued lifeless, and preachers that officiated 
could not get the attention of the congregation. It was pro- 
posed by several that "little Abe Snethen," as he was famil- 
arly called, should be invited to the stand. Others objected, 
saying that such a minister would be a disgrace to the denomi- 
nation. But finally, bad as he appeared, he was invited to 
preach. His success was far beyond his own expectation. 
Christians wept and shouted, the stragglers gathered up close 
to the stand, and in the midst of the excitement, the venerable 
Elder Samuel Kyle cried out with a loud, stentorian voice : 
"Lord, send us more bare-footed preachers to convert the peo- 
ple." 

One peculiarity of Brother Snethen was, that he frequently 
disappointed his congregations in this way ; his looks were 
against him but his ability as a speaker was so superior that 
his congregations were taken by surprise. No one that knew 
him doubted his sincerity. Like many other pioneers, his 
generosity knew no bounds. His house was a free tavern to 
the traveler. He fed all that came, both man and beast. His 
wife was like himself in her liberality. He always carried on 
a farm. He lost three or four that he had cleared, by his indis- 



SNETHEN— SOYAN. 337 

criminate liberality. Both he and his companion and children 
worked very hard. He had twelve children. They were a 
happy family. At the time of meetings of days, generally near 
his own house, he fed all that came, and was happy in doing 
so. At one of these meetings, there was no meat in the house 
to feed the crowd, and for a time they did not know what to 
do, but the Elder took his gun to try what the Lord had in 
store for him. He did not go far until two fat deer came up 
close to him, as much as to say, ''We will become the sacrifice 
this time ; take us." He had them both and was strongly im- 
pressed that it was of the Lord. He continued thus in limited 
circumstances through life, but few men enjoyed what he had 
more than he. He brought up a fine family of children. His 
hope of the future was the brightest, and thus he died in peace 
with all, full of labor, usefulness, and hope. 

William Sxethen was a brother of the above, and was 
born in Kentucky. He lived and labored within the bounds of 
the Tippecanoe Conference, Ind., and was a member of that 
body at the time of his death in 1856. 

Robert Snodgrass labored in Ohio and Kentucky. At 
one time he was a member of the Kentucky Conference, and 
at another time labored in the bounds of the Deer Creek Con- 
ference, O. He was an able preacher, and died before 1826, 
about fifty years of age. 

Calvin Southwick. (1823— 1869.)— Calvin was killed 
at the battle of Fredericksburg, Ya. , in the War of the Rebel- 
lion. He was converted in the Methodist Church, but soon 
after joined the Christian Church, and in 1842, was ordained 
to the work of the ministry in the New York Eastern Confer- 
ence. His ordination took place at South Valley, X. Y., 
where, united with East Worcester, he labored for three 
years or more, going from there to Summit and Xorth Har- 
persfield, where he remained for about seven years. He was 
preaching at Reidsfield and Gilboa when he entered the army. 
Just before he was struck down, he observed to a friend that 
he could see nothing, and laid down his gun as if to fall back, 
but stepped forward and immediately fell, pierced with many 
bullets. He was about forty years old at the time of his death. 

Thomas Soyan. (1785 — 1850.) — This Elder was born in 
1785, moved from Kentucky to Indiana, was a member of the 



338 SOYAN— SPENCER. 

Tippecanoe Conference, and was ordained about 1838. He 
died near Argos, Ind. 

Josiah Spaulding-. (1803 — 1843.) — Josiah was born in 
the State of Vermont, in 1803. He received as good an edu- 
cation as the common schools afforded in those days, and by 
his energy, was able to add greatly to his knowledge in after 
years. In 1823, he went to Ohio, and in the next year, con- 
fessed the Savior, was baptized by Elder A. C. Morrison, and 
united with the Christian Church at Monroe, Ashtabula 
County, O. Although actively engaged in the work of farm- 
ing, he was not remiss in church duties, nor did he grow luke- 
warm in his profession, but his zeal increased and he soon de- 
voted his whole time to the cause of the Master. He was or- 
dained at Pembroke, N. Y., in 1831, and took charge of the 
church at Royalton, in the same year. In this place he was 
married to Miss Laurinda Sawyer, by whom he had four chil- 
dren, all of whom survived him. In 1835, he organized a 
church at Parma, O., and was preaching there and at Rich- 
field, ten miles distant, while his family resided in the neigh- 
borhood. 

His health was very poor after his return to Ohio, although 
he continued to preach in several places, and moved to Jack- 
son, Mich., some two years before his death. He returned to 
Ohio in September, 1843, but lived only a few weeks after his 
return, and died at the residence of his brother, in Monroe, O., 
October 19, 1843, aged forty years. He was a man of pure 
heart, deep piety, and earnestness, but his poor health had im- 
paired, to a great degree, his usefulness in the ministry. 

THE SPENCERS. James Spencer was, for many years, 
a mild, pleasant, devoted, and useful minister in the Ver- 
mont Conference ; but about 1823, he became a believer in 
one of the wildest fanaticisms of modern times, called the 
"Niles Fanaticism," from the woman who pretended to a new 
revelation, began to call for converts, and to the wonder of 
all, James Spencer became one of them. How long he re- 
mained among them we have no means of knowing ; but after 
a time, he came to his right mind, and began to preach among 
the Christians, wherever there was an opening. But it is 
likely that he was never fully restored to the confidence of his 
brethren. 

James Spencer. (1808 — 1853.) — This minister was an ac- 
tive lay brother, laboring earnestly for the advancement of the 



SPENCER— SPOOK. 339 

cause, both by his personal influence and by his writings. His 
home was near Broom, Schoharie County, N. Y., and his 
membership was in the church at that place. In 1851, he 
joined the New York Eastern Conference, and for the last two 
years of his life, he labored untiringly as a minister. He died 
February 28, 1853, of inflammation of the lungs, in the forty- 
fifth year of his age. 

Joseph Spencer labored for many years in the Eel River 
Conference, Ind. ; but about 1856., he moved to Iowa, where 
he died. 

James S. Spooner. (1806 — 1842.) — This Elder was born 
in Lyndon, Vt., in 1806. When quite small, he moved with 
his parents to New Hampshire, where he was converted in 
1823. While in this state, he began to preach, and soon 
after, moved to Moira, N. Y. , where he was ordaiued by El- 
ders Smith and Newland, in 1827. While in New York, he 
labored chiefly at Orleans, in Jefferson, and at De Kalb, in 
St. Lawrence County. He moved from this state to East 
Grwillimbury, Canada, and became pastor of the church in 
that p]ace in 1830. He remained pastor of this church till 
his health failed. He died June 15, 1842, aged forty-eight 
years. 

John Spoor. (1795 — 1864.) — This brother was one of 
the most prominent ministers of the Christian Church for 
many years. He was born in Charleston, N. Y., September 
11, 1795. He was the third child in a family of six children. 
His educational advantages were limited, and whatever pro- 
ficiency he attained in letters was the result of study alter 
leaving home, and was gained under great disadvantages. 
He made a public profesion of religion in 1813, and was bap- 
tized the same year by Jonathan Thompson. He was one of 
the first members of the church at Charleston, and that at a 
time when there were not over sixty persons members of the 
Christian connection in that state. 

He began to preach in August, 1815, and was ordained in 
June, 1818, by Elders Ross, Thompson, and King, in his na- 
tive place, where he labored nearly a year, when he went to 
Freehold. His first meetiugs were held at the house of 
Philip Vosbury, in Coxsackie. A revival began at once, and 
the powerful work continued in the country around for four 



340 SPOOR— SPRINGER. 

years, until the church at Freehold and its branches numbered 
500 members. He aided in the orgaDizatian of the first 
Christian Church in Dutchess County, labored with great suc- 
cess in Rensellaer County, gathering, while there, churches in 
the towns of Berlin aud Petersburg, and also in South Adams, 
Mass. He resided, for a time, at Steventown as an honored 
and successful pastor. His ministry of eighteen mouths in 
New York City was attended with much good ; but his health 
failing, he returned to Freehold. 

His last public ministry- was at Medusa, N. Y., where he 
had preached often when in the prime of life. The church 
was greatly revived, and the people heard him gladly, although 
he was then enfeebled with age. He possessed a commanding 
presence, a noble form, and a musical voice ; he was easy in 
manner and gestures, and made a free use of appropiate lan- 
guage, thereby easily commanding the attention aud awaken- 
ing the interest of his hearers.. In Freehold, he baptized 4"0 
persons. During his eutire ministry, he baptized between 
1,400 and 1,500 persons, solemnized about 1,000 marriages, 
and attended not far from 1,500 funerals — an unusual amount 
for one whose labors were confined principally to a rural dis- 
trict. 

For nearly fifty years, the Elder was one of the most active 
and successful minisiers of the Christian Church. He did not 
travel like Badger, Millar, Walters, aud some others, but he 
occupied a very important position in the eastern part of New 
York and the western part of Massachusetts, and his influence 
is felt to this day in every place he visited. One particular 
trait is noticeable in his writings — he always speaks well of his 
co-laborers in the work, and of the kindness shown him even 
by the most bitter sectarian or most obstinate unbeliever. 
From this it may be inferred that none could resist his cheery 
disposition, his unassuming manner, and, above all, his unaf- 
fected piety. He died in April, 1864, at his home in Free- 
hold, N. Y., in the sixty-ninth year of his age. An able ser- 
mon was preached, on his death, by Elder Warren Hathaway, 
and was printed in pamphlet form. 

Enoch Springer was a native of New York, and was a 
minister of the Methodist Church until his removal to Indiana 
in 1841, when he joined the Cole Creek Conference, and soon 
became a prominent minister in the Christian Church. He 
Jabored faithfully in this church for a year, when he was killed 



SPRINGER— STANTON. 341 

by the limb of a tree falling upon him while he was on his 
way to an appointment. He was not far from forty-two years 
old at the time of his death. 

James Stackhouse. (1783 — 1854.) — This brother was 
one of the early pioneers of the Christ'an Church in Ohio. 
His labors were confined chiefly to Miami and Logan counties; 
In the time when it was not customary for ministers to re- 
ceive much salary, he spent twenty-two years laboriug to sup- 
port his family, preachiug when he could. After his removal 
to Marion County, Ind., he organized several chinches, and 
was an able and efficient pastor among them for many years. 
He did not preach for some time before his death, owing to a 
disease of the throat. He died at his residence near Marion, 
Ind., June 2, 1854, in his seventy-first year. 

Maktin Staley. (1785 — 1859.) — Martin was born in 
1785, and died July 19, 1859, aged seventy-four years. He 
was a prominent Christian minister in North Carolina. The 
"Christian Sun" says that he spoke for hours while the whole 
congregation was bathed in tears. 

Amasa Stanton. (1812 — 1879.) — Amasa was born in 
Charleston Four Corners, N. Y., July 16, 1812, and died in 
Wayne County, the same state, March 20, ]879. He at- 
tended meeting under the pastorate of Elder John Ross, was 
converted April 12, 1831 , and was baptized by Elder Ross 
the 15th of June following. He was impressed with the duty 
of preaching soon after his conversion. He had sufficient ed- 
ucation to make a successful school teacher. July 16, 1834, 
he preached his first sermon at Root, N. Y., and was ordained 
the following year. For four years he labored successfully 
as an evangelist, after which he became pastor of the church 
at Berne. September 10, 1839, he was married to Miss Maria 
Sterling, a sister of Elder Badger's wife, at Honeoye Falls. 
About this time, he labored extensively in Monroe, Livings- 
ton, and adjoining counties ; but in the midst of his labor, he 
had a violent attack of sore throat, which interrupted his min- 
isterial work for a time, and of which he never fully recov- 
ered. He became pastor of the churches at Lakeville, North 
Rush, Naples, Bristol, Honeoye Falls, and Marion. He con- 
tinued in the latter place till death, although, on account of 
the throat disease mentioned, he did not labor as pastor for 
the last few years of his life. 



342 STANTON— STILES. 

The Elder was an able man in the ministry. He served 
the Marion Church for eighteen successive years, changed the 
place of worship from the country to the village, and had a 
fine church building erected. On account of failing health, 
he opened a grocery store for his son and daughter, but he 
continued preaching, when he could, to the last. During this 
time, he labored with the churches at Rush, Sodus, and Alton. 
In 1872, he had a fine house of worship erected at North Rush. 
He was one of the first trustees of Antioch College. In 1876, 
he met the Tioga River Conference, of which he was a mem- 
ber, for the last time, and presided over the session. His 
health being poor, his brethren gathered around him with af- 
fection, fearing that they should see his friendly face among 
them no more. 

Amos Stark. (1776 .) — Amos was born in 1776, 

and began to preach in 1808. He was a brother-in-law T of El- 
der David Ford — both had been in the ministry for nearly 
half a century when Elder Walter visited them at their homes 
in New York, in 1854. Elder Stark bought a meeting 
house and presented it to the members of the Christian Church 
at South Berlin about this time. We have no definite account 
either of his various experiences in the ministry or of his lat- 
ter days. 

Joseph Starkey. (1805 — 1878.) — Joseph was born in 
Derbyshire, England, in 1805, of poor but respectable parents. 
When a young man, he enlisted in the British Army, came to 
Canada as a soldier, took leave of his regiment, came to the 
States, made his home with Thomas Farensworth, and mar- 
ried his daughter Mary, who survived him. He moved to 
Hermon, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., was converted, and 
was baptized in July, 1835, by Elder Alpheus Field. He 
soon began to exhort, became an active worker, and was or- 
dained in 1838, Elders Allen and Banister officiating. He 
died at his home in Hermon, August 31, 1878. 

Elder Starkey was a firm, faithful, and devoted minister, 
with considerable ability. He filled a wide field of usefulness 
in the bounds of the Northern New York Conference for many 
years, and his departure from labor, when in a ripe old age, 
was sincerely mourned by his brethren. 

Elizabeth Stiles. ( 1862.) — This female laborer 

is said to have been a talented, faithful, and devoted minister 



STILES— STEVENS. 343 

for several years. She was a sister of Elder Osborne, of the 
State of Maine. She was married to Martin Stiles in 1815, 
and died in 1862. 

THE STEYENSES. Amos Stevens. (1806—1843.)— 
The following is from the pen of Elder Josiah Knight, an in- 
timate friend of the deceased : 

"Amos Stevens was born in Strafford, Vt., of respectable 
parents, December 30, 1806. In early life, he was deeply im- 
pressed with a sense of his sinful condition, and fled for refuge 
to Jesus, the sinner's friend, and soon found peace in believ- 
ing in him. He united with the Christian Church in his na- 
tive town, and soon felt his mind drawn out to call sinners to 
repentance. On May 18, 1827, he joined the Vermont Con- 
ference, and received a license to preach. In May, 1829, he 
was married to Miss Lucinda Lampson, a member of a respect- 
able family, and also a worthy member of the Christian Church 
in West Randolph, Vt. He found in her a faithful and con- 
fiding companion, and one who shared with him all his joys 
and sorrows till the ties that united them were broken by the 
ruthless hand of death. 

He continued faithful in the discharge of his ministerial du- 
ties until full proof was made of his usefulness and ability to 
do the work of the ministry, and on June 23, 1831, he was 
publicly set apart for the work by ordination. Sermon by 
Elder Edward B. Rollins. After his ordination, he devoted 
the most of his time, for seven years, to traveling and preaching 
the good news of salvation. In connection with the writer of 
this sketch, he traveled in many parts of New England ; nor 
were his labors in vain, especially in Pomfret, Stowe, Morris- 
town, Randolph, and Braintree, Vt., and Piermont, N. H. 
In 1832, a committee was appointed by the Vermont Confer- 
ence of "Christian Brethren" to compile and publish the "Un- 
ion Hymn Book." The members of the committee were El- 
ders A. Stevens, J. L. Green, and J. Knight. The compila- 
tion of the book was mainly attended to at the residence of 
Elder Stevens, at Stowe, Vt. The volume was stereotyped, 
contained 432 pages, and was in general use in Vermont for 
several years. 

In the winter of 1831-32, in company with the writer, El- 
der Stevens traveled in Lower Canada, and organized eight 
churches ; as follows, at Sutten, Broome, Shefford, Stukeby, 
Farnam, Stanstead, Hattey, and Bolton. These were organ- 



344 STEVENS. 

ized under the name of Christian Brethren churches, some 
years before the union of that body with the present Christian 
Church ; aud it may be that these churches were somewhat 
neglected after that union — at least, some of them became low 
and probably extinct. Elder Stevens was, at this time, a 
member of the Vermont Conference of Christian Brethren, 
and took a very active part in bringing about the union of this 
body and the Christian Connection. June 13, 1836, he and 
Elder R, Allen were appointed delegates to the Mass Confer- 
ence for the purpose of laying before that body the subject of 
the contemplated union. The results of this meeting were fa- 
vorable and the union was afterward consumated. 

In the spring of 1838, he left his native state and emigrated 
west, settling in Woodstock, Champaign County, O., where 
he soon organized a Christian Church. He was not exten- 
sively known in Ohio till he joined the Central Conference, 
which he did at Appleton, Licking County, in August, 1839. 
His preaching, at that time, made a favorable impression on 
the minds of the people, and all believed that a valuable ac- 
quisition had been made to the ministry of Ohio — and much 
more so when, in the next session, he proved himself to be an 
able debater and a safe and able counselor. 

In 1841, he labored hard, in connection with others, to 
found a college, to be called the La Fayette Univers'ty, to be 
located at New Carlisle, Clark County, O., but failed, in the 
attempt ; yet good was done by calling attention to the sub- 
ject. In 1842, he was elected President of the conference ; 
and such was the worthiness with which he filled that position 
that he was unanimously chosen to fill the same place the fol- 
lowing year — and never was the chair filled with more satis- 
faction. He had a good knowledge of parlimentary usages, 
and always treated all classes kindly and respectfully, yet was 
firm and unwavering in his purpose. He remained at Wood- 
stock, as pastor of the church there, some five years, during 
which time he labored considerably in other places. In 1843, 
he left Woodstock and took the pastoral charge of the church 
in Dayton. But he had been there only two months when 
the hand of disease was laid upon him. He spoke of his de- 
parture with great composure of mind, and said that the nearer 
he approached his end the more he was convinced of the truth 
of the principles we advocate. He died December 27, and 
his funeral took place three days later — on his thirty-seventh 
birthday. 



STEVENS— STINCHFIELD. 345 

Elder Stevens was about five feet nine inches in height, well 
proportioned, of light complexion, full face, and his open, 
frank, and manly appearance would not fail to attract the at- 
tention of any congregation of strangers. His social qualities 
were more than ordinarily developed. His manner of preach- 
ing was not so exciting as it was convincing. His arguments 
were strong and his reasoning irresistible." 

James Stevens. (1825 — 1867.) — James was born in 
1825. He was converted when quite young, and soon felt 
that it was his duty to preach. For the purpose of fitting him- 
self more carefully for this profession, he entered Oberlin Col- 
lege, O., and there graduated with honor. He soon entered 
upon the w T ork of the ministry, but his health would not per- 
mit him to engage in it as actively as he desired. For the 
purpose of recruiting his strength, he went to Yineland, X. J., 
where he remained till about four weeks before his death, when 
he returned to his former home in Freehold, X. Y. He died 
at that place September 6, 1867, at the age of forty-two years. 

Levi Stickxey. (1801 — 1858.) — Levi was born in Can- 
ada, in 1801, and there grew up to manhood. He was con- 
verted under the preaching of Elders Morrison and Blodget, 
soon after began to preach, and was ordained in Canada, 
where he traveled extensively, and also in New York and Ohio. 
He joined one of the conferences of Ohio, but in 1847, moved 
to Michigan, where, in 1855, he was married for the first time, 
being fifty-four years old. He settled in the wilds of Michigan , 
preparing for himself a home, but preaching regularly. He 
died at Lapeer, Mich., September 3, 1858, of jaundice, in the 
fifty-eighth year of his age. Elder Cannon speaks of him as a 
very good man. 

Willet Stillman. (1776— 1826.)— Elder Stillman was 
born in 1776. He was pastor of the church at Plainfield, N, 
Y., tor some time, and died there, of lung disease, November 
16, 1826. Sermon by Elder J. Hayward, his intimate friend 
and fellow-laborer. 

Epelraim Stlscheleld was, for more than forty years, a 
prominent preacher in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, 
his home being at Gloucester, Me. In 1806, he held a great re- 
vival in Woodstock, Vt., in company with John Rand and 
22 



346 STINCHFIELD— STONE. 

Elias Smith. In 1819, he did much in putting dovn the "fa- 
naticism of Jacob Cochrane" near York, Me. We learn, in the 
life of Mark Fernald, that in 1836, he was very ill, being 
stricken with paralysis, but know nothing more concerning his 
last days. 

Peter Stipp. (1793— 1848.)— This brother was born in 
the State of Virginia, but removed to Ohio when quite young. 
While living in Logan County, O., he was married to Miss 
Harrison, and after her death to Miss Beard, who, with four 
children, survived him. In 1840, he joined the Auglaize 
Christian Conference as a licentiate. He became an active 
minister and continued his labors iu that conference until 
1846, when he removed to Fulton County, 111. He then joined 
the Spoon Kiver Conference, and remained a highly esteemed 
member of that body until his death, November 16, 1848, in 
his fifty-fifth year. His death was caused by the running 
away of his horses while haulm g rails. He fell under the load 
and died instantly. 

Michael Stockwell was a minister in Kentucky and In- 
diana about 1810 and 1825. 

Elijah Stoddard. (1815 — 1867.) — Elijah was a native 
of New York, but a member of the Michigan Central Confer- 
ence at the time of his death, which was occasioned by the fall 
of a tree, at Vermontville, Mich., January 1, 1867, aged fifty- 
two years. 

Barton W. Stone. (1772— 1844.)— This noted man was 
the son of John and Mary (Wasson) Stone, and was born near 
Port Tobacco, Md., December 25, 1772. His father died 
when he was quite young, and in 1779, his mother moved with 
a large family of children and servants to Pittsylvania County, 
Va., on the Dan Kiver, then the wildest part of the state. 
His earliest recollections were of the events of the Revolution- 
ary War, and the rudeness and low morality of the people 
about them. 

He was sent to school early, and here his love for books was 
fostered and strengthened with his growth in years. His early 
religious impressions were received from both the Baptists and 
Methodists, as there were many persons of both denominations 
in the country, and great good was done by them, both by ex- 
ample and precept. In 1790, he attended the Guilford Acad- 



STONE. 347 

emy, under the instruction of Dr. David Caldwell. During 
his stay at this school, after a great struggle of mind, he was 
converted, and in 1793, in company with others, became a 
candidate for the ministry in the Presbyterian Church. His 
difficulty in satisfying himself in regard to the Trinity was so 
great that, after several examinations, he gave up the task, 
and started to Georgia, for a visit to his brother, where he was 
sick for several weeks with a fever. After his recovery, he 
obtained a position as teacher of languages at a Methodist Ac- 
ademy, near Washington, Ga., and remained there until 1796, 
to the full satisfaction of the trustees, and with great improve- 
ment to himself, especially in the French lauguage. 

This same year we find him with a license to preach, from the 
Orange Presbytery, N. C, and an appointment to travel in 
company with Robert Foster, who soon gave up the work as 
too difficult to perform. This was very discouraging to young 
Stone, and he had made up his mind to go to the wilds of Flor- 
ida, to be rid of the ministry, when he was disuaded by a good 
old mother in Israel. He then started on a long journey to 
Tennessee, accompanied a part of the way by his friend Fos- 
ter. From Tennessee Stone traveled to Kentucky, and from 
there again to the Carolinas and Georgia. During this trip, 
he had many hairbreadth escapes from hostile Indians and the 
robbers that infested the country at that time. He preached 
a great many sermons while out this time, and was now fully 
committed to the ministry. From seeing the great cruelty 
with which slaves were treated, while in South Carolina, he 
had become a decided anti-slavery advocate ; and when, some 
years after, he had his principles practically put to the test by 
the possession of human beings, he never faltered but liberated 
them all immediately. 

In 1798, he received a call from the Cane Ridge and Con- 
cord churches, in Kentucky. As he was about to be exam- 
ined before the Transylvania Presbytery for ordination, the old 
trouble of the Trinity came up again ; but through the assis- 
tance of Robert Marshall and James Blythe D. D. , he was en- 
abled to pass by accepting the Confession of Faith, as far as 
consistent with the Bible in his mind. He now entered with 
great enthusiasm and energy upon the work of saving souls, and 
with the hearty co-operation of the churches in the task. 

In 1801, in the midst of a great revival, he was married to 
Miss Elizabeth Campbell, of Muhlenburg, Ky. This revival 
spread through all the country around, and Elder Stone was 



348 STONE. 

one of the most prominent actors in the work. From long 
and severe labor, he had an attack of hemorrhage of the lungs ; 
but he was cured of this in one night by a "profuse pulpit 
sweat." From the time of his settlement with the churches at 
Cane Ridge and Concord until 1804, when the separation from 
the Presbyterians took place, he assisted in carrying on revi- 
vals constantly. 

And now, in 1804, came the great trial as the Presbyterians 
began to re-examine their Theology from the basis. The first 
man tried for heresy was Richard McNemar, who was soon 
disowned. Then came Stone, Marshall, Thompson, Dunlevy, 
and David Purviance, who was a candidate for the ministry, 
and they all shared a like fate. But there was a greater 
trouble still for Stone. No sooner had they decided their 
course of adopting the Bible as their only creed, and while yet 
in the midst of the reformation, than a body of Shakers, from 
New York, visited the place, and two of the leading men, Dun- 
levy and McNemar, joined that body. To add to the dis- 
couragment of Stone, Marshall and Thompson returned to the 
Presbyterians, leaving Stone alone of all the ordained minis- 
ters that had assisted in the organization of the new body ; 
but Elder David Purviance, who was a licentiate at the time, 
though ordained soon after by the new church, and many others 
were added, making up, in a great measure, the delinqeuncy 
of those mentioned. 

In 1809, Elder Stone lost his only son, and the year follow- 
ing found him mourning the death of a faithful wife. He 
traveled, after this, for a year and a half, generally in com- 
pany with Elder Reuben Dooly, through Tennessee, Kentucky, 
Ohio, and other states. In 1811, he was married to Miss Oelia 
Bowen, a cousin of his former wife, from Nashville, Tenn. 
After his marriage, he lived for some time in his old home, in 
Bourbon County, Ky. ; but he finally moved to Tennessee, 
and from there to Lexington, Ky., where he taught a High 
School, with great success. During this time, he studied He- 
brew, with a Prussian doctor, which he said was of great use 
to him in his farther researches after truth. He afterwards 
took charge of the school in the Rittenhouse Academy, at 
Georgetown, Ky., where he soon organized a large church of 
some 200 members. He gave up the school that he might de- 
vote his whole time to the pastoral work ; in return for this, 
the brethren were to discharge the debt that he had incurred 
in purchasing a small farm situated near that place. As they 



STONE— STRAIT. 349 

failed to keep their promises, he started a private school, and 
thus paid the debt, although he was nearly broken down by 
such constant labor. 

From this time till 1826, Elder Stone's life was like that of 
thousands of other ministers in early times — traveling from 
one place to another, preaching and exhorting the people to 
repentance. His labors, during this time, were attended with 
great success. In 1826, he commenced the publication of the 
"Christian Messenger," a periodical of great ability, which he 
published alone until 1832, when Elder Johnson became a 
partner in the concern. The publication of this paper contin- 
ued, with short intervals, until 1843. After 1834, it was 
published in Jacksonville, 111. In 1830 or '31, Alexander 
Campbell visited him in Kentucky, and after some discussion, 
they agreed to unite their labors. In 1834, Stone left Ken- 
tucky and moved to Jacksonville, 111., where he remained the 
rest of his life. 

In 1841, at the age of sixty-nine, he was struck with paral- 
ysis, which disabled him from active labor for the rest of his 
life. In 1843, his health improved so much that, in company 
with some of his children, he visited his old friends in Indi- 
ana, Ohio, and Kentucky, and returned in better health. 
In 1844, he started on a visit to his children and friends in 
Missouri ; while there he was seized with another stroke of 
paralysis, and died in Hannibal, Mo., November 9, 1844, in 
his seventy-second year. 

Abraham Stout was a member of the North-western Ohio 
Conierence. He died in 1874. 

John Strait. (1758 — 1861.) — John was born in 1758, 
and grew to manhood in the State of R. I., and there preached 
among the Freewill Baptists. In 1776, he entered the Revo- 
lutionary War, and was in the battle of Plymouth, and sev- 
eral others. He served all through the war, but he never re- 
gretted having entered the ministry. In 1785, he was fully 
ordained to the work. He continued his w T ork in New Eng- 
land until 1818, when he moved to Gallia County, O., where 
he joined the Christian Church, and lived a long life in that 
body as an able and devoted minister, a co-laborer, but senior 
in age, of Joseph Baker, George Alkire, and others. 

On his hundredth birthday, August 31, 1858, a meeting 
was appointed at his house, in Gallia County, and a great 



350 STRAIT- SULLINGS. 

crowd assembled to do honor to the old patriarch. Elder J. 
W. Brown preached a sermon, assisted in the exercises by El- 
der A. Drake, of the Christian Church, and ministers of other 
denominations. At the close, Elder Strait preached a sermon 
of more than half an hour in length. It was a scene seldom 
witnessed, and one of great interest to the visitors. He lived 
nearly three years longer, and died in 1861, in his 103rd year. 
His life was one of great usefulness, and his example was the 
admiration of all that knew him. His ministerial work was 
confined, mostly, to the south-eastern part of Ohio. 

Stringer was a minister that labored in some of the 



Southern States. About 1809, in connection with Elder 
Rainy, he published a pamphlet in vindication of the Christian 
doctrine. 

Cyrus Strong. ( 1849.) — Cyrus was a minister in 

Champaign County, 111., for many years. In the •'Palladium" 
of April, 1841, he says that for the last nine years he has la- 
bored almost alone as a minister with two churches in his neigh- 
borhood. He commenced his ministerial career in 1821, and 
closed it by death in 1849, not far from seventy -five years of 
age. The brethren of the different churches where he labored 
speak highly of him as a good man and an able minister. 

Joseph Sturdyvant was a minister who was active in tne 
work about 1808. 

Harvey Sulltngs was, for a long time, a noted man 
among the New England ministers. Not only was he an able 
pastor, but also a shrewd business man. He had earned quite 
a large property, and did a great deal towards organizing 
churches by giving freely from his abundance. He had charge 
of the church at Bristol, R. I., for some time, but during his 
later years he did not hold any regular pastorate, although he 
preached occasionally. He died about 1860, between sixty 
and sixty -five years of age. 

In early life, Elder Sulliugs had been in the whaling busi- 
ness, and made many voyages to distant seas in pursuit of his 
avocation. In this calling he made money. He was als.o en- 
gaged as a hard-ware merchant. In all such occupations he 
was a successful man in business. In the midst of all his suc- 
cess, however, he turned his attention to the ministry, and was 



SULLINGS— SWANK. 351 

equally zealous in promoting the cause of Christ, as he had 
been in his other occupations. Being in good circumstances, 
it is probable that he did not receive the remuneration for his 
labors in the ministry that men with more limited means did, 
nor is it probable that he could so entirely disentangle his 
mind from his business, as if he was a poorer man. Be that 
as it may, while he did not hold as high a position in the de- 
nomination as his talent would indicate, yet he was useful in 
assisting weak churches, and especially in rearing houses of 
worship. 

James Sullivan. (1791 — 1856.) — James was born in 
Lincoln County, N. C, in 1791, was married about 1810, 
moved to Clark County, O. , in an early day, served in the war 
of 1812, was converted under the preaching of Nathan Worley, 
and began to labor in public soon after. It is not likely that 
he was ever ordained, but he labored almost constantly in the 
latter part of his life. He lost his property and was in limited 
circumstances, but brought up an excellent family of children 
— eight in number. Having seen the evils of slavery in his 
young days, he became an intense opposer of the institution, 
and made three trips on foot to his native state, to speak 
against the 3ruelty of it, preaching constantly on these journeys 
He was well versed in the Scriptures. He died in 1856, near 
Dayton, O. 

Surber was a minister of some prominence, who 

lived, for awhile, in Des Moines, Iowa, but moved to Kansas, 
and died there several years ago. 

Emily B. Swank. (1825— 1876.)— This sister, whose 
maiden name was Hunt, was born in the State of Kentucky, 
February 25, 1825, was married to M. D. Swank, M. D., 
April 18, 1850, and died in Indianapolis, Ind., September 13, 
1876. When quite young, she was left an orphan in the care 
of a kind brother. She received academic education in her 
youth, and became a successful school teacher. She had an 
active mind, and high aspirations to make herself useful. She 
studied medicine and delivered many lectures on that subject. 
She also took an active part in the reforms of the day ; such as 
temperance, freedom of the sla/es, rights of women, and for 
the purpose of more successfully agitating these subjects, she 
edited a temperance and anti-slavery paper for fifteen years, and 



352 SWANK— SWEET. 

at the same time lectured successfully on the same subjects. Du- 
ring these years, her mind took a skeptical turn as to church 
influence in the promotion of these reforms. For the purpose 
of further mental development, she attended eight successive 
terms at Antioch College, Yellow Springs, O., during which 
time she became acquainted with the liberal sentiments of the 
Christian Church. She joiued the church at the above place, 
and soon the Miami Conference, O., where she was ordained 
and continued a faithful member until death. She labored 
faithfully, as far as health would permit, and was an able ex- 
pounder of christian ethics to the last. 

Abeam Swart.. (1823 — 1863.) — This brother was born in 
North Hampden, N. Y., in 1823, and was converted in the 
same place under the labors of Elder H. A. Pratt. In 1853, 
he entered the school at Starkey Seminary and remained there 
tour years, two of which were spent as an assistant teacher. In 
1855, he married Miss Maria Jamison, also an assistant 
teacher. He commenced preaching while at Starkey, and was 
ordained in 1858. He then became the pastor of the church 
at Kirkwood, N. Y., and after he left that place, he went to 
Smithfield, Penn. He entered the army in 1862, and was 
made Captain of Co. C, 141st Penn. Regiment. He was 
killed at the battle of Fredericksburg, Va., May 3, 1863. 

THE SWEETS. Caleb Sweet. (1799— 1861.)— This 
brother was born in 1799, was ordained at Otsego, N. Y., in 
1824, began to preach in 1845, and was ordained in 1849, in 
Jackson, Penn. He preached twelve years for the churches at 
Jackson and Laurence, Tioga County, Penn., and died at Ca- 
ton, Steuben County, N. Y., March 13, 1861. Elders C. D. 
Kinney and C. Newall speak highly of Elder Sweet as a 
good, faithful, and useful minister. 

Pentecost Sweet. (1787— 1870.)— This Elder was born 
in Rhode Island, in 1787, but when a child moved with his 
parents to Sterling, Conn. He was married to Eliza Farnum 
in 1813, and in the same year, embraced religion under the 
labors of Elder Douglas Farnum. At that time, he could 
neither read nor write. In 1815. he moved with his family to 
Smithfield, Penn., and in 1821, after having held a successful 
meeting for some time, the result of which was a great revival, 
they organized a church with no regular pastor, although El- 



SWEET— TATEM. 353 

der Sweet acted as leader in the services. This arrangement 
continued till 1826, when he was regularly ordained, took the 
pastorate of the church, and held that position until his death, 
July 25, 1870, at the age of eighty-four years. 

THE SWEMS. Ezra B. Swem. (1815— 1871.)— Ezra 
was a native of New Jersey, but removed with his parents, 
when small, to Pennsylvania. In 1835, at the age of twenty, 
he left home and moved to Ohio, where he remained for two 
years, then went to Indiana, where he was married to Miss 
Phoebe Gregg. Here he remained for two years when he re- 
turned to Montgomery County, O., and was converted under 
the labors of Elder Nathan Worley, in 1839. He entered the 
ministry in the same year, but never devoted his whole time 
to the work, as he carried on the business of wagon making 
during a greater part of the time. In 1853, he moved to 
Iowa, where he remained engaged both in preaching and sec- 
ular pursuits until his death, November 17, 1871, at the age 
of fifty-seven. He w T as a man of more than ordinary natural 
talent, and was very useful. While in the State of Indiana, 
Elder Swem lived and labored in Wayne and Henry coun- 
ties, and was a member of the Bluffton Conference. He ex- 
erted a good influence in the churches in his field of labor. In 
Iowa, where he died, he was considered by the brethren a val- 
uable acquisition to the infant cause in that state, and was 
greatly mourned when called away. 

William Swem. (1825 — 1855.) — This brother was born 
in 1825. He received a license to preach when twenty-five 
years of age, and in 1851, a year later, was ordained. He 
was a good, faithful minister, but somewhat local in his labors. 
He died September 25, 1855. His field of labor was in Ken- 
tucky. 

THE TATEMS. Nathaniel Tatem. ( 1835.)— 

This brother w T as pastor of the church at Providence, Va., for 
many years. He died in New York City in 1835, while there 
on business. Elder I. N. Walter speaks of him as an accomp- 
lished gentleman, an able physician, and a talented minister 
of the gospel. 

William Tatem. ( 1853.) — This Elder was a son 

of the preceding. He was converted in 1835, soon after entered 
upon the work of the ministry, and became pastor of the 



354 TATEM— TATTON. 

church at Providence, Va., where his father had been an hon- 
ored pastor for many years. He was also an able physician, 
and, at one time, a representative from the city of Norfolk in 
the Virginia Legislature. He was an able debater and a pow- 
erful defender of the principles of the Christian denomination. 
He died in Norfolk, Va., in 1858. 

John B. Taets. (1791— 1876.)— This aged veteran was 
born September 30, 1791, in Dutchess County, N. Y., and 
moved, about 1803, to South Westerloo, where he remained 
until his death. November 7, 1814, he was married to Miss 
Mary Boardman, with whom he lived happily for more than 
sixty years, and who survived him. He was converted in 
1815, under the preaching of Elder Jasper Hazen. After an 
urgent persuasion, he joined the Baptist Church, and was 
baptized in that connection. But his union with that church 
lasted only three days, he joining the Christians at the expira- 
tion of that time on account of his views being more in har- 
mony with the doctrine of the latter body. He soon began to 
preach, and became an active and successful minister. He 
was quite powerful in revivals, often baptizing more than sixty 
converts at one time. He organized many churches, among 
which were those of Medusa and Medway. He was pastor of 
the church at Westerloo until 1844. Part of the time, Elder 
John Spoor labored there in connection with him. Like many 
others, he was carried away from his moorings by the Miller 
excitement in regard to the speedy coming of Christ ; and al- 
though he never joined the Advent denomination, it is prob- 
able that the effect of that excitement injured his influence in 
his own church. He was a plain, earnest man, well respected 
by all who knew him. In his latter years, his mind and body 
failed together ; but on the subject of religion, his thoughts 
were wonderfully clear to the last. He died May 10, 1876, 
in his eighty-fifth year. 

Jesse Tatton. (1825 — 1875.)— Jesse was born in the 
Province of New Brunswick in 1825, and for three years, fol- 
lowed the seas as a sailor. He moved to Ontario, Canada, in 
1844, and settled in the township of King. He joined the 
Christian Church, began to preach, and in 1852, was ordained. 
He soon became an efficient minister, and filled a wide sphere 
of usefulness for more than twenty years of an active, stirring 
life in the church. He was not only a zealous man, but he 



TATTON— TAYLOR. 355 

was studious, liberal, and systematic as well. He wrote for 
our papers, was active in conference, and was a powerful ad- 
vocate of the general measures of the denomination. His la- 
bors were mostly confined to Canada, where he lived ; but he 
was interested in the welfare of the churc 1 ! every where. As 
a pastor, he labored for six years at West Gwillimsbury, then 
four years at Browham, and after that, at Markham. He 
had a meeting-house built at Ringhood. At White Vale, he 
continued three and a half years, and at Oshawa, three years. 
This last was the fifth church he had charge of — and he suc- 
ceeded well in all of them. He was married twice. At his 
death, he left five sons. He died September 26, 1875, deeply 
lamented by his church, the community, and the entire de- 
nomination, of which he had been a useful member. 

THE TAYLORS. Benjamin Taylor. (1786—1848.) 
— Benjamin was born in Beverly, Mass., July 22, 1786. He 
was one of fourteen children — five daughters and nine sons ; 
four of the latter became ministers of the gospel, three in the 
Christian and one in the Baptist Church. One of the daughters 
married a minister. His parents w 7 ere members of good 
standing in the Baptist Church, but united with the Christian 
Church in their latter years. When Benjamin was quite young, 
his parents removed to New Hampshire, where he was con- 
verted and baptized by Elder Webster, of the Baptist Church, 
but did not join that church on account of the doctrine of elec- 
tion ; but he was, from this time forward, very attentive to re- 
ligious duties. 

In 1804, he went to sea, was imprisoned in France for some 
time, and on his return, was nearly shipwrecked. During all 
this time his mind was very much exercised as to whether it 
was his duty to preach or not. After his return from his sea- 
voyage, he found his father living at Salem, Mass., and here 
he became acquainted with the principles of the Christian 
Church, from the small body organized there by Elder Abner 
Jones, and in 1809, united with this church. He soon began 
to speak and pray in public with great earnestness, and was 
urged to devote his time and talent to the work of the minis- 
try. He finally consented to accompany Elder John Rand to 
New Bedford, and some of the adjoining churches, exercising 
his gift for the benefit of many and pleasure of all, although he 
was still timid and doubtful to a great degree. After spending 
two years in this way, in June, 1811, he was prayerfully set 



356 TAYLOR. 

apart to the work by Elders Jones, Hix, Hathaway, Farnum, 
Phillips, Easty, and Grossman, in the presence of nearly two 
thousand people, at Assonet, Mass. His first charge as a pas- 
tor was at New Bedford, and during his stay there he was 
married to Mrs. Mary Rodman, of Newport, R. I., with whom 
he lived very happily until death separated them, While in 
New England, he labored chiefly with the churches of New 
Bedford, Taunton, and Swansea, although he preached occa- 
sionally at other places. He had had wonderful success in all 
these places and especially at Swansea, where there was a re- 
vival of two years duration, and gi eat numbers were added to 
the church. While at this place, he was chosen a member of 
the Legislature, a place that he filled with great credit to him- 
self and satisfaction to others. 

He labored in New England from 1809 to 1831, in which 
year he moved to the State of Michigan with his family. This 
state was, at the time, a wild country, and his neighbors were 
chiefly Indians of the Pottawatamy tribe. With many of these 
he formed pleasant and friendly relations, as with the two 
chiefs, Sagamaw and Shornoble. He remained in the West 
nine years, doing a great deal towards straightening the infant 
cause in Michigan, but as his health was not good and the 
brethren in the East were calling lor him to return, he decided 
to do so, and accepted the pastorate of the church at Provi- 
dence, R. L, for one year. In 1841, he was appointed pastor 
of the Bethel Chapel, and for the next eight years, he did much 
for the cause of Christ among the seamen. At the end of this 
time, his health had become so poor that he felt it was neces- 
sary to give up his position, and decided to return to Michi- 
gan, hoping that rest and change of air would be beneficial. 
In July, 1848, he, with great suffering, accompanied by his 
faithful companion, returned to their old home in Michigan, 
where, after suffering with dropsy for eight weeks, he died, 
September 24, 1848, aged sixty-four years, to the sorrow of the 
whole denomination. 

Elder Taylor stood very high in the estimation of his breth- 
ren, during nearly forty years of his ministerial life. He was 
a man of firmness and reliability, and though not a great 
scholar, yet he was well informed upon all subjects. A neat 
volume of biography of his life and labors was published by 
Elder E. Edmund, of Boston, which had quite a circulation, 
throwing much light, not only on the work of Elder Taylor, 
but on those of hisco-laborers also. 



TAYLOR. 357 

James Taylor was a brother of the preceding. He was 
second in age, Benjamin being the eldest and John the young- 
est. He was ordained in Assonet, Mass., in 1828, at the same 
place where his his brother Benjamin had been ordained sev- 
enteen years before — his brother Benjamin preaching the or- 
dination sermon. He was pastor of the Middle Street Chris- 
tian Church at New Bedford, Mass., for a number of years, 
where he was very successful as pastor and speaker. He had 
charge of the church at Middleton, R. L, where he baptized 
104 persons during the months between April, 1836, and Feb- 
ruary, 1837. He died at Washington, D. C, in 1862 or '63. 

John Taylor. (1805 — 1872.) — John was a younger 
brother of the subject of the preceding sketch, and was born in 
Sutton, N. H., in 1805. He was converted in 1817, and en- 
tered the ministry in 1830, at the age of twenty-five. As an 
evangelist in New Hampshire, Vermont, and other places, he 
did efficient work and gathered many into the fold of Jesus. 
Shortly after, he Fas ordained pastor of the Christian Church 
at Wareham, Mass. His pastorates were at Wareham, Mass., 
Portsmouth and Providence, R. I., (he was in the latter place 
eleven years) Plymouth and New Bedford, Mass., and West- 
erly, R. I. In 1847, he >vent to Westerly, and found a small 
church of thirty persons, and a small Sabbath-school. He soon 
brought the church to a more prosperous condition, and the 
Sabbath-school, where he labored so untiringly, to a flourishing 
state. He took this school on an annual excursion down the 
river, for twenty years, without a storm or any thing to pre- 
vent on the appointed day. His interest in the young, as such., 
was peculiar and showed itself in all his labor and plans for 
good. He was pastor of the church at Westerly for twenty- 
five years, with the exception of six months service at the Mar- 
iner's Bethel, in Providence, of which his brother Benjamin 
was the founder. He had charge of the River Bend Cemetery 
from its commencement, till the failure of his health compelled 
him to relinquish it, after seventeen years of faithful studious 
care. His eminent adaptation to this peculiar trust, his faith- 
fulness, trust, and befitting tenderness in interring and guard- 
ing the sepulchre of the precious dead, justly endeared him to 
many hearts and homes. 

As a minister, he was very successful, as much from' his 
sympathy and earnest desire for the salvation of all, as from 
the stirring appeals to such, to return from the error of their 



358 TAYLOR— TERRY. 

ways. He was stricken with paralysis some time before his 
death, which occurred October 12, 1872, in the sixty-eighth 
year of his age, lamented by all in the village where he had 
lived and served as a pastor for so many years, and by the en- 
tire denomination. 

William Tegarden. ( 1857.) — This Elder was 

converted under the labors of Robert Hawkins in 1826 or '27, 
and, like that brother, became a zealous local minister. He 
did a great deal of good for the cause in the section of the 
countrywhere he lived, but he never devoted himself wholly 
to the work of the ministry, as a great deal of his time was 
spent on his farm. He lived a consistent life, and was well 
respected by all who knew him. He was a member of the 
Mt. Vernon Couference for many years before his death. He 
died in 1857, at an advanced age. 

The following incident shows the firmness of Elder Tegar- 
den : In 1840, Elder A. C. Hanger, then a young minister, 
visited Father Tegarden at his home in Columbiana County, 
O. By some means, the latter had failed to secure the peri- 
odicals of the church and keep himself posted ; so there he la- 
bored faithfully with a small church of about thirty members, 
having been informed that that aud one or two other churches 
were all that was left of the entire Christian denomination. 
So glad was he, when the young man informed him differently, 
that he could hardly sleep that night for joy. After that, El- 
der Tegarden kept better posted. 

THE TERRYS. E. D. Terry was a native of New 
York, ancl in 1834, was pastor of the church at Stanford ville, 
the same state. He has been dead many years. 

E. Y. Terry. ( 1866.)— This brother grew up in 

Charleston Four Corners, N. Y., under the teaching of El- 
der J. Ross and pious parents, who carfully developed his mild 
disposition. He was converted when quite young, and already 
manifested a great desire for knowledge. He atended school 
at Union College, N. Y., at Antioch College, O., and likely 
studied Theology at Andover, Mass. After spending some 
years in teaching and studying, he showed that his mind had 
been greatly developed, with no loss of fervency and devotion 
in the cause of religion. 

His last -charge was at Fall River, Mass., where his pros- 



TERRY— THOMAS. 359 

pects of future usefulness were bright. He was very happy 
in his relations here — the church cheerfully co-operating in all 
the plans of their talented young pastor, and a loving wife was 
with him to aid by her presence and counsel ; but the fell de- 
stroyer entered this happy home and community, December 
18, 1866, and took the brightest ornament. The neighboring 
ministers were so much enlisted in behalf of the young widow 
that they voluntarily filled the pulpit of the deceased for -the 
remainder of the year that she might receive the full salary. 

Daniel Tharp was a member of the Eastern Ohio Con- 
ference. He died several years ago. 

THE THOMASES. Adam Thomas. (1782—1859.)— 
This aged minister spent the last years of his life in Montgom- 
ery County, Ind. He was born in Kentucky, in 1782, where 
he lived until his father moved to Ohio, in 1805, where, a 
year later, he was married to Miss Jane McJimsy. His father 
died in Miami County, where he had settled on coming to 
Ohio, in 1843, at the age of eighty-eight years. About 1811, 
Elder Thomas united with the church at Rocky Springs, and 
soon after, began to speak and pray in public. He served for 
a short time in the war of 1812, and was not ordained until 
1815. It is probable that he would have been set apart to the 
full work of the ministry much sooner but for his limited 
means of support — for in those days preaching was almost en- 
tirely a gratuitous work. After his ordination, Elder Thomas 
took charge of the church at Lost Creek and at Lower Still- 
water, which he held until his removal to Indiana, in 1831. 
Here, he was a co-laborer of James McKinney, Dudley, and 
others of the Cole Creek Conference. With these, he traveled 
through a greater part of Western Indiana and Eastern Illin- 
ois, enduring the many privations and great toil of a pioneer 
minister without a murmur. 

One of his sons, Elder Joel Thomas, became a co-laborer 
with him, and a prominent minister in the conference of which 
his father had been a faithful member for so many years. Al- 
though Father Thomas lived to the advanced age of seventy- 
seven years, he w T as a great sufferer for many years ; but he 
bore all with meekness and patience. He died August 11, 
1859. The Elder's great power was shown more forcibly in 
revivals and in gatherings where warm appeals and rousing 
exhortations were required than in the pastorate, or in sermons 
requiring argument and deep research. 



360 THOMAS. 

Elias Thomas. ( 1830.)— Ehas was a member of 

the Conference of Christian Brethren in Vermont, and was a 
well respected and faithful member of that body till his death, 
in 1830. His wife was a minister also, and traveled with Ra- 
chel Hosmer for some time. Elder Thomas was very local in 
his labors. He was very diffident and retiring in his manners, 
although a very useful man. He died in the house in which 
Reuben Dodge had died two years before, and in which Seth 
Allen died four years later. 

Frederick Thomas. (1804—1858.) — Thomas was born 
near Philadelphia, Penn., in 1804, was converted when quite 
young, and soon began an active ministry with such compan- 
ions in the work as F. PJummer and W. Lauer, both of whom 
speak highly of him as a young man of great zeal and energy. 
He labored for some time with the church at Fair view, N. J., 
and in 1854, removed, with his family, to South Bend, Laport 
County, Ind., where he labored in the ministry until the close 
of life, April 25, 1858, at the age of fifty-four years. 

Hazael Thomas. (1811 .) — Hazael was born in 

Chester County, Penn., moved with his parents to Ohio in 
1815, and from there to Brookville, Ind., in 1818. In 1827, 
he attended meeting in Franklin County, Ind., and under the 
preaching of Elder William Hubbard, of the Christian 
Church, was deeply convicted. Three years later, he joined 
the United Brethren Church in Montgomery County, O., and 
in 1831, joined the Christian Church under the preaching of 
Elder John O'Kane, at Lebanon, in the same state. Soon after, 
he was licensed to preach in the Miami Conference, and was 
ordained by Elders James Maple and Isaac Dearth. The lat- 
ter part of his life was spent near Prince William, Carroll 
County, Ind. He was a zealous man, and devoted much of 
his time to the work of the ministry. He died several years 
ago. 

Joseph Thomas. (1791 — 1845.) — Joseph was one of the 
most noted men of his age. He commenced his life in North 
Carolina, and had traveled as missionary through nearly all the 
old states in the Union, and finally died of the small-pox, in 
Johnsoriburg, N. J., far away from family and relatives. He 
was somewhat eccentric in his manners and speech, and one of 
his peculiarities was the wearing of white garments, from 



THOMAS. 361 

which practice, arose the name by which he was best known — 
"The White Pilgrim." 

He was born in Orange County, N. C, March 17, 1791, his 
parents having moved from Pennsylvania soon after their mar- 
riage. At seven years of age, owing to the loss of property 
and the intemperate habits of his father, he was adopted by a, 
family that treated him very cruelly ; but after two years of 
suffering, he was taken to the home of a married brother, in 
Virginia. While there, he was confined to his bed for two 
years with white swelling. In 1803, he was taken to the home 
of another brother in the same state, but although moved from 
one place to another, and afflicted as he was, he had been able 
to obtain a moderate education by the time he was of age. In 
1806, at a camp-meeting, he was deeply convicted, began to 
pray in private, and in a year after, at the age of sixteen, he 
received the evidence of a full pardon. He was much exer- 
cised at the time as to what church or denomination he should 
unite with, as he did not believe thoroughly in any of the doc- 
trines of the people around him ; but a few months later, he 
heard of a body of people called Christians, who had dispensed 
with creeds, bishops, discipline, etc., and he determined to 
know more of them. For this purpose, he visited one of the 
ministers, Elder Kainy, and was so well satisfied with the 
views and manners of government of that body that, in a few 
weeks, he united with the church and was baptized by pouring, 
at Kaleigh, N. C, by Elder O'Kelly, at the same time receiv- 
ing a license to preach. This was in 1807, before he was sev- 
enteen. He now began to travel and preach in company with 
Elder J. Warren, and was, in a short time,, several hundred 
miles from home and friends, in the southern part of Virginia ; 
but the relations between Elder Warren and himself were not 
pleasant, and he left him and began to labor with Elder Thomas- 
Reeves, in the western part of Virginia, in whom he found a 
genial companion and faithful guide. In 1808, Elder Reeves 
left him and returned to Tennessee, but Elder Thomas still re- 
mained in that part of the country, traveling, as he had done 
for some months, when he, too, left the place and returned to 
his native state. 

From this time forward, there was no cessation in his labors, 
and as he says in his journal : "I now found that persecution 
and popularity had united to toss my name abroad, and they 
were balanced to my advantage, so that by the one I was not 
abjectly depressed, nor by the other elevated in my own esti- 
23 



362 THOMAS. 

mation, beyond the moderation of Christian character." His 
co-laborers, while in that part of the country, were, O'Kelly, 
Kainy, Haggard, Hallo way, Guiry, Barrett, Eeeves, Dooly, 
and others. After traveling extensively through the wild un- 
civilized regions of Viiginia and the Carolinas, sometimes on 
horseback, sometimes on foot, in all kinds of weather, often 
fording or swimming rough and dangerous streams, frequently 
without money or sufficient food and clothing, meeting perse- 
cution and ridicule from both the ungodly and the sectarian, 
after enduring suffering that few are called on to endure, he 
arrived, May 24, 1811, in the city of Philadelphia, passing 
through Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, to 
reach it. At this time, he was baptized by immersion, not be- 
ing satisfied with the pouring that he had received at Kaleigh, 
N. C, by Elder O'Kelly. 

April 5, 1812, he was married to Miss Christiana Kittenour, 
ot Frederick County, Va. , who was a faithful and devoted com- 
panion. With her he lived happily until his death, but his 
marriage made no change in his career ; he labored and traveled 
as he always had done. Sometimes his wife accompanied him, 
but not often, and as the family increased, she was content to 
remain at home with a double care and responsibility, thus 
assisting him in the work to which he had devoted his life. 

Elder Thomas' biography closed in 1817. With no dates 
to guide for the eighteen years of his life which followed, we 
will state this : Soon after 1817, he removed with his family 
to Madison County, O., and soon organized a church, near his 
home, of which he assumed the pastorate, although he still 
continued his itinerant labors, chiefly in Ohio. He wrote fre- 
quently for the different periodicals of the denomination, on 
different subjects, of Theology and his travels. He also com- 
posed several pieces of poetry, which were published in his 
autobiography. In 1835, he took a long journey through the 
Eastern States, and during the whole journey, thousands of 
people were called together to hear the wonderful western 
preacher. While on his return home, at Johnsonburg, N. J., 
he was stricken with that fatal malady, the smallpox, and his 
eventful life was terminated April 9, 1835, in his forty-fourth 
year. 

Of the character and talents of Elder Thomas, we may say 
that he was a man of real ability. He had some eccentricities 
— the wearing his white garments at all times, to the exclu- 
sion of all others, may be counted one of them. His constant 



THOMAS— THOMPSON. 363 

traveling, in all weathers, on foot, as well as on horseback, ex- 
posed to so many dangers and persecutions, with no pay, 
would be counted very odd in other places and times. In his 
case, it was perfectly natural. When he gave himself to the 
Lord as a minister, there was no half-way work. He vowed, 
and his vow was sacred, in his mind. When these oddities 
are considered, he appears as a person of shallow mind ; but 
as we see the man in all his character, we see, under all, a mind 
and heart, calm, clear, and powerful, a sincere seeker after 
truth, and boldness enough to follow it without regarding the 
customs of society. His poetical productions were admired by 
many ; but being composed in a hurry, with no deliberate re- 
vision, they show us only that the man had in him a poetical 
gift. Brother Thomas was a good man, and his death was a 
great loss to the church. 

Joseph Thomas was a nephew of Joseph Thomas, the 
1 'White Pilgrim." For many years, he was a member of the 
Deer Creek Conference, O. , and labored in the bounds of that 
conference with great success. Later in life, he moved to Ill- 
inois and settled at Pontiac, in that state. A short time before 
his death, he spent a year or more in Greene County, O., and 
preached for the Ebenezer and other churches in that neigh- 
borhood. He returned to his home in Illinois, and died soon 
after. Elder Thomas was a zealous, faithful man in the min- 
istry, and his labor was attended with much success. 

P. M. Thomas. (1808— 1877.)— Elder Thomas was born 
in Sweden, Genesee County, N. Y., December 12, 1808, was 
converted in 1826, entered the ministry in 1829, and was or- 
dained in 1841, at the Parma church, N. Y. In 1831, he was 
married to Miss Lucy Chapman, of whom he had two sons. 
In 1844, he moved to Ogle County, 111., where he exerted a 
good influence in the ministry. In 1862, his companion died, 
and two years later, he moved to the State of Iowa, where he 
labored with success to the end. After serving in the minis- 
try for more than fifty years, he died at Waterloo, March 2, 
1877. 

THE THOMPSONS. Alexander Thompson. (1792— 
1864.) — This brother was born in the State of Maine, June 1, 
1792. He was converted under the labors of Elder Burnham, 
baptized by the same in 1812, in his native place. Two years 



364 THOMPSON. 

later, he was married to Miss Betsey Clark, and soon after, 
moved to Clermont County, O. He commenced his ministe- 
rial life in 1813, and continued a licentiate for many years, as 
he was not ordained until 1831. In 1848, he moved to Brown 
County, where he remained until his death, April 12, 1864, in 
his seventy-second year. He was an excellent man, and a 
good pastor, but confined his labors to one or two churches,, 
which were always in a prosperous condition. 

Hubbard Thompson was a native of New York, and there 
he labored, lived, and died. 

Jesse Thompson. (1795 — 1858.) — Jesse was converted 
in 1818, and was ordained to the full work of the ministry 
three years later, at Andover, N. H. He died at Ballston, 
Saratoga County, N. Y., in July, 1858, at the age of sixty- 
three. He was an able, plain-spoken, and effective speaker, 
tall and slim in person. 

John Thompson was a Presbyterian minister during the 
greater part of his public life, but was one of the founders of 
the Christian Church. He was one of the leaders of the re- 
vival at Cane Ridge, and was one to encourage and assist in 
the organization of a church without creeds, and with the Bible 
alone for the rule of faith and practice ; yet when McNamar 
and Dunlevy joined the Shakers, he and Robert Marshall 
made haste to return to the Presbyterians. He died in Craw- 
fordsville, Ind., a few years ago, quite aged. 

John T. Thompson. (1799— 1878.)— Brother Thompson 
was born near Chester, Delaware County, Penn., in 1799, was 
converted in 1815, soon after was babtized by Elder Freder- 
ick Plummer, and at once began to speak in public, in com- 
pany with Elder Plummer. In 1822, he was married, and in 
1844, was ordained by Elders Plummer and Flemming. His 
labors were mostly confined to Delaware, Buck, Montgomery, 
and Philadelphia counties, Penn., and to Salem, Gloucester, 
and Burlington, N. J. He was pastor, at different times, of 
the Mt. Zion Church, in the city of Philadelphia, and at Adal- 
usha, Carversville, and Ridley. He was a very zealous, self- 
sacrificing man, but his being opposed in his ministerial work, 
for a time, by his companion crippled his success, in a meas- 
ure. He was taken sick at Carversville, N. J., and died there,. 
May 2, 1878. 



THOMPSON. 365 

Jonathan B. Thompson. (J 794 — 1866.) — Elder Thomp- 
son wrote an excellent autobiography of his life and labors, 
which should have been published in book form ; being too vo- 
luminous for this work, extracts are taken from it for the fol- 
lowing sketch : 

He was born in Weathersfield, Vt., in 1794. .When fifteen 
years old, December, 1809, he was converted, and in June fol- 
lowing, he began to preach, and was ordained before reaching 
his seventeenth year. After laboring faithfully in his native 
state for three years, he went to Charleston N. Y., to assist 
in a great revival carried on by Sister Nancy Cram. He was 
prevailed on to remain in this place as pastor of the church. 
He remained there for four years and then went to Oneida 
County, an entire new field of labor. Here he remained nine 
years, bringing order out of disorder and organizing many 
strong and self-supporting churches. After three years in 
Vermont and thirteen in New York, he removed to New 
Jersey, where, in July, 1826, he commenced his labors in 
Johnsonburg, and with the assistance of Elder Clough, he or- 
ganized a church of which he remained a pastor for Dine years. 
In 1835, he removed to Milford, where he remained until 1838, 
when his wife died, and he concluded to travel, but received a 
call from the church at Fall River, Mass. At the expiration 
of a successful pastorate of two years, he became the pastor of 
the Christian Church in Boston. He remained there two 
years, when he took charge of the church at Swansea, Mass., 
where he continued five years. In 1848, he removed to Provi- 
dence, R. I., and took the pastorate of the Bethel Chapel, and 
in 1851, he took charge of the church at Parma, N. Y., where 
he remained five years. In 1856, he went to Oshawa, Can- 
ada West, where he labored until 1860, when his failing health 
induced him to return to his old home in Parma, Avuere he 
preached occasionally, as his health would permit, until his 
death, December 10, 1866, at the age of seventy-two, and fif- 
ty-six in the ministry. 

The above is an outline of the work and removals of Elder 
Thompson. Beside his pastoral world, he was always con- 
nected with the general enterprises of the denomination. He 
was a live man. Having commenced his ministerial career 
early, and at a time when it cost something to be a Christian 
minister, he entered the work with all his energy. His great 
heart and brains were fully enlisted, and from the time of put- 
ting on the harness, it never was taken off until removed by 



366 THOMPSON— TRAVIS. 

death. As for his talent, whether the most brilliant or not, 
the fact of his sustaining himself so long and so well in such 
places as Boston, Fall River, and Providence, is a proof suffi- 
cient that he was not lacking in ability as pastor and preacher. 

Moses Thompson was a member of the Kentucky Chris- 
tian Conference in 1826. He was a zealous, faithful man, 
and died at the age of thirty-eight years. 

Samuel Thompson was a brother who lived and labored in 
the ministry in the vicinity of the church on Ludlow Creek, 
Miami County, O., and died in that neighborhood about 1845. 

Elijah Tillman. (1819 — 1879.) — Elijah was born in 
Preble County, O., April 14, 1819, and died in Cass County, 
Ind., in 1879. He was converted in 1840, began to preach at 
once, and the same year was married to Miss Mary Anne 
Rhinehart. He moved to Darke County, O., where he lived 
seven years, and then moved to Pulaski County, Ind., and was 
ordained by the Tippecanoe Conference in 1849. During his 
stay in Pulaski, he labored in that and in adjoining counties 
with great success, but in 1869, his health being poor, he 
moved to Cass County, near Logansport, where he remained 
until death. He was true, zealous, and firm in his profession, 
and stood high with his brethren in the Tippecanoe Confer- 
ence. 

Samuel Tingle. (1795 — 1861.) — Elder Tingle was born 
in 1795, in Warren County, O., was a member of the Metho- 
dist Church for some years, and had begun to preach among 
them, when he removed to Allen County, near Lima. Here 
he united with the Auglaize Christian Conference, and com- 
menced a long and useful ministry in the Christian Church. 
He died July 4, 1861, in Hardin County, in the sixty-sixth 
yea.r of his age. One of his sons, Elder J. F. Tingle, became 
an able minister in the church of his father, so that the dead 
father is still speaking through the living son. 

Townsend. (1755 — 1846.) — This minister was 



born in 1855, and spent the latter part of his life in Wolfe- 
borough, N. H., where he died in 1846, at the advanced age 
of ninety-one years. 

Daniel Travis was a native of Tennessee, and died there 
July 6, 1826. 



TREECE— TRUE. 367 

David Treece was a member of the Southern Illinois Con- 
ference, and was a faithful minister at the time of his death in 
in 1873 or '74. 

THE TRIPS. Gideon W. Trip. ( 1879.)— El- 
der Trip lived in South Wesport, R. I. , on a farm owned by 
himself, for many years. He was an able preacher, and had 
charge of many churches in his time. He died December 13> 
1879, suddenly, while feeding his stock. 

Martin Trd? was a native of New England, and died 
before the year 1826, in some part of the West. 

Thomas Trip. (1803— 1859.)— Thomas was born in 1803, 
joined the Christian Church in 1851, was ordained to the full 
work of the ministry in 1854, and labored faithfully until his 
death, March 20, 1859, in the fifty-sixth year of his age. 

D. Trout was a member of the Kentucky Christian Con- 
ference. He died the year preceding the session of 1855. 

THE TRUES. Oliver True. (1788— 1870.)— Oliver 
was born in Connecticut, in 1788, was converted in 1806, com- 
menced preaching about 1819, and a year later, became pastor of 
the church at West Mendon, N. Y. In 1846, he lived at 
Norwalk, O., preaching occasionally, and working at his trade 
— carpentering. From this time, we have no special account 
of his labors, except that he traveled extensively through 
Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, and wrote for the papers,, 
more or less, all through his ministry. He was an able theo- 
logian, and was very familiar with every part of the Bible* 
He died at Brockport, N. Y., April 13, 1870, of pulmonary 
disease, after a ministry of over fifty years, in the eighty-second 
year of his age. He was very poor at the time of his death.. 

William True. (1783— 1844.)— This Elder was born in 
Vermont in 1783, commenced preaching in 1815, at the age 
of twenty-two, in the State of Vermont, but in 1816, he moved 
to Perry, N. Y., near Silver Lake. About a year later, he 
moved to Covington, Penn., w T here he remained until his death. 
He organized many churches, among others one at Castile, N. 
Y. , which he served as pastor for many years. He died in 
1844, in the sixty-first year of his age. He was always spoken 
of as an excellent man and an able pastor. 



368 TRUE— TUCKERMAN. 

William True, jr. (1793— 1818.)— This brother was 
born in Andover, N. H., in 1793, began to preach in 1813, and 
was ordained a year later, at Andover. He took his family 
to Brutus, N. Y., in 1816, where he labored with great suc- 
cess until 1818, when his health failed. Iu company with El- 
der Elijah Shaw, he returned to his father's house, in Ando- 
ver, where he died October 11, 1818, in the twenty-sixth year 
of his age. 

Thomas Truett. (1816 — 1875.) — This minister was born 
in 1816, in Alamance County, N. C, and died iu 1875. He 
spent thirty years in the ministry. He was pastor of the Shal- 
low-Ford Christian Church, and a member of the North Caro- 
lina and Virginia Conference. His peculiar forte was in ex- 
hortation. 

Oliver Tuckerman. (1817— 1868.)— The subject of this 
sketch, for many years, held a prominent position in the Chris- 
tian Church, in New England. Commencing his religious 
life in Portsmouth, N. H., he labored extensively through the 
greater part of New England, and several provinces of the 
British dominion, but the great work of his life was done in 
the city of Portland, Me. Those who remember the destruct- 
ive fire that destroyed the greater part of that beautiful city, 
will also remember the subject of our sketch, for he was then 
one of the most prominent and active men in that town to assist 
the destitute families [that suffered so severely in that great 
catastrophe. 

He was born in Portsmouth, N. H., March 1, 1817. 
was baptized, and received into the church at Portsmouth, 
April 6, 1834, by Elder Moses How, and commenced preach- 
ing in New Hampton, N. H., in November, 1839. He was 
ordained, a year later, by Elders Fernald, Blodget, Burnham, 
and Barry, at Newton, N. H. He then returned to the north- 
ern part of New Hampshire, and traveled there and in Canada 
until 1841, when he took charge of the church at Newton, N. 
H. From 1842 to 1850, he labored in different places in New 
Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, organizing 
churches and strengthening those that were weak. 

In 1850, he went to Maine, where he labored four years in 
much the same way, visiting some of the churches in the Brit- 
ish Provinces in the meantime. In the winter of 1854-55, he 
supplied the Bonney Street Church in New Bedford. After- 



TUCKERMAN— TURNER. 369 

wards, he took charge of the church at Salisbury Point, aud 
remained there until 1857, when he moved to Portland, Me., 
where he spent the remainder of his life. Under the encour- 
agement of the First Parish Unitarian Church and others, he 
accepted the position of minister at large, and with the co-op- 
eration of his wife, gathered the poor children of the city into 
a Sabbath-school, held at the chapel erected for the purpose, 
and supplied them with clothing etc. from funds donated 
for that purpose. He was also connected with the Bible 
Society, as another branch of his duty in this position. A 
Christian Church was re-organized, of which he was elected 
pastor ; and although few in number, they were well united, 
and assisted him cordially in his charity and missionary labors. 

After the great fire in Portland, in 1866, many were left 
destitute, and great suffering resulted. Elder Tuckerman was 
one of the the most active laborers in the work of alleviating 
this distress, as he was a member of the committee appointed 
by the city for this work. These duties were very pressing, 
and by his great exertions at this time, it is likely that he has- 
tened the disease that terminated his life. His health had 
been very poor for some time, but no serious apprehensions 
were aroused until he had served for some time on this com- 
mittee, when he was compelled to resign. His death followed, 
January 24, 1868. 

His death was a source of much sorrow, especially to those 
whom he had assisted while in their great distress. The min- 
istry was his principal work for many years, and he often sub- 
jected himself to much toil and sacrifice in order to meet his 
appointments. He bestowed much thought upon his sermons, 
which were well arranged and logical — not eloquent, perhaps, 
but generally delivered free from notes, and at times with an 
inspiration that gave large freedom of speech. He impressed 
his hearers with his earnestness and sincerity, which, with a 
somewhat pathetic voice and manner, won the hearts and at- 
tention of all. He stood high in the denomination as a promi- 
nent worker in the field, and passing away in his prime, caused 
great sadness in the church. 

THE TURNERS. James Turner labored in Tuscarawas 
and adjoining counties in Ohio. When the Disciples first came 
around, he labored with them, through the influence of Barton 
W. Stone, but returned to the Christians. He died about 

1842. 



370 TURNER— UTLEY. 

S. Turner was born in Warren County, N. C. He was 
an excellent man and did good work. He died at a ripe age, 
in full faith of a blessed immortality. 

James Tuttle is mentioned chiefly in the life of Mark Fer- 
nald, who speaks of him in 1816 as one of the oldest ministers 
in the conference at that time. 

Littlejohn Utley. (1775 — 1859.) — The following is 
from the pen of J. D. Gunter : 

''Elder Littlejohn Utley was born in Wake County, 1ST. C, 
fourteen miles south-west of Raleigh, February 7, 1775.- His 
education was limited. He was not converted till after his 
marriage, which took place in 1797, to Sarah Walton. They 
brought up ten children, who became active and useful mem- 
bers of society. Two sons moved to Utah, and one is a Baptist 
minister The others, some now dead, filled their part well in 
society. Shortly after his marriage, he went to a dance, and 
on the way home he determined to pursue a different course, 
which he did. He soon entered the ministry of the Christian 
Church, and was ordained April 28, 1822, by Mills Barrett 
and John Hayes. He labored in Chatham, Wake, and 
Orange counties. He preached after he was eighty years old. 
He baptized] Mr. Bryant Stroud when he was unable to hold 
him up, and took a colored man to perform the manual part. 
His last pastorate was at Damascus, five miles from the Uni- 
versity of North Carolina. He did much good for his Master, 
and was very much loved by all who knew him. He would 
take no salary, but would accept a gift. He was noted for his 
liberality, lively disposition, and fondness for children. He 
died of dropsy, May 13, 1859, in the eighty-fifth year of his 
age. A grand-daughter furnishes the following account of her 
grandfather's death : 

'Grandfather's holy life and triumphant death was a beau- 
tiful proof of the reality of the religion that sustains the Chris- 
tian in the dying hour. When near his end a friend asked if 
he knew him, and he replied, 'T know one thing — I know 
that the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our 
Lord." His last words to his physician were : "Prepare to 
meet thy God." On the morning of his death he became de- 
lirious, his mind seemed lost to all else but the sweet prospect 
of a happy entrance into the brighter world. He asked for 
his Bible that he might hold family prayer, and while a friend 



UTLEY— VAIL. 371 

read a favorite psalm, he became as composed as an infant, 
but ere the oft-repeated duty was performed, he fell asleep in 
Jesus — died as he had lived, a child of God.' The funeral 
was preached from a text of his own selection, found in II 
Timothy 4 : 6th, 7th, and 8th verses. 'For I am now ready 
to be offered etc' " 

After a stormy and laborious voyage, his rest was sweet. 

Zerah S. Vail. (1818— 1878.)— This brother was born in 
Camillus, Onondaga County, N. Y„ August 18, 1818. He 
was of Welsh extraction. He became affected about religion 
in August, 1830, and was converted December 20, the same 
year. He first united with the Methodist Church, although 
he continued with them but a few months, when he left them, 
and through the neglect of duty, relapsed into coldness. He 
remained in this condition about five years. He then renewed 
his religious profession, returned to his first love, and united 
with the Ripley Christian Church, in Huron County, O. He 
was impressed with the duty of preaching, from the time of 
his conversion, but was reluctant to enter the sacred work. 
He commenced his ministry, and preached his first sermon in 
a school house in Branson, Huron County, O., to a crowded 
congregation. He was ordained October 9, 1842, by Elders 
N. E. Loren. J. B. Sacket, Patrick Mallory, and Gordon F. 
Smith, the last named being a Freewill Baptist. His field of 
labor was first in Huron County, then extended to Sandusky, 
Seneca, and Erie counties. He also made journeys to the 
State of Michigan and other places. 

In addition to his regular preaching, he lectured on temper- 
ance, and during the war, extensively on the subject of govern- 
ment. He was an ardent Union man, and did much to mus- 
ter men into the service in the darkest days. Such was 
his feeliugs of patriotism that he requested to be buried, 
wrapped in the flag of his country — which was done. Another 
request of his was carried out. It was, that the Bible that he 
carried in his ministiy should be laid on his breast. 

The substance of the following is from a paper published in 
the neighborhood of our brother's home : Elder Vail was a 
man widely known as a minister, a controversialist, and an able 
speaker on temperance and civil government. His health had. 
been failing for some time, and a severe attack of flux on an. 
already weakened constitution terminated his life August 23, 
1878. He was married three times — to Miss Saliie M. Robin- 



372 VAIL— VANBUSKIRK. 

son in 1838, to Eliza Elliott in 1847, and to Permelia Ford in 
1851. One of his sons died in the service of his country, after 
passiog through fifty battles and skirmishes. His funeral oc- 
curred on the twenty-fifth. Sermon by Elder Stamp. Six 
ministers acted as pall-bearers. The Bible was placed on his 
breast and the flag of his country around his body, as he re- 
quested. 

For many years, Elder Vail occupied a high position in the 
Huron Conference, O. For some years, he was almost alone 
as a pastor, connected with the body. He continued to la- 
bor with great activity, writing much for our papers, attend- 
ing the general meetings of the church, holding long debates 
with champions of contrary views, publishing pamhlets and 
tracts on various subjects, and doing all, apparently, that 
any man could do in spreading the views that he held so 
dearly as the truth of God. His education was not extensive 
when he began to preach, but by diligence and hard study, he 
became a well-informed man. He had written a full autobi- 
ography of his life and labors to within a few years of his 
death. This may be published in a volume by itself by his 
faithful widow. 

Cornelius Van Ausdal. ( 1868.) — This aged 

brother died in 1868, in the bounds of the BlufFton Confer- 
ence, Ind. He was retired from the active ministry for many 
years, although he preached occasionally. He was past eighty 
years of age when he died. There are no accounts of his early 
life and labors. 

THE VANBUSKIRKS. John Van Buskirk. (1795 
— -1874.) — John was born in Alleghany County, Va., Novem- 
ber 19, 1795, moved with his parents to Pickaway County, 
O., in 1797, was converted in 1822, under the labors of Elder 
George Alkire, was baptized by Elder James Burbridge, 
and began to preach in public the same year. His father be- 
ing a member of the Catholic Church, strenuously opposed the 
son in this Protestant work. But the young man continued 
fast in his course, and was ordained by Elders Gardner and 
Burbridge. He continued preaching very earnestly for about 
twenty years, when his health failed, in a measure, and the re- 
mainder of his life was less active. Still, he continued a use- 
ful minister to the last. He died on his farm in Pickaway 
County, O., September 18, 1874, at the ripe age of seventy- 
nine years, respected by all that knew him. 



VANBUSKIRK— VOORHEES. 373 

Peter Van Buskirk. (1826— 1873.)— Peter was the son 
of the preceding brother. He was born in Pickaway County, 
O., May 3, 1826. Being raised under the influence of relig- 
ious parents, he was converted early, in 1840, at the age of 
sixteen, and was baptized by Elder Enoch Harvey. He soon 
joined the Deer Creek Conference, O., as a licentiate. He 
was never ordained, as he never felt like entering fully into 
the work. Yet he was a useful minister, in a local way, and 
was greatly lamented when taken away in his prime, October 
13, 1873. 

B. F. Van Doozer. ( 1846.) — Our present sub- 
ject began his ministerial career in New York. He was an 
active minister of the Erie Conference for many years. He 
afterwards traveled extensively through Illinois, writing fre- 
quently for the "Palladium," and manifesting great zeal in the 
cause. He was a member of the Illinois and Wisconsin Con- 
ference for some time ; but for some irregularities of conduct, 
the conference withdrew its fellowship from him. He after- 
wards enlisted in the Mexican War, and died while in the ser- 
vice, August 10, 1846. 

Charles Van Loon. ( 1846.) — This minister was 

a native of N. Y. He died in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., very sud- 
denly, November 22, 1846, in his twenty-eighth year, leaving 
a wife and one child. Although young, he was well known 
as a fearless advocate in the cause of human freedom and tem- 
perance. He was an able minister and one that bad already 
proved himself very energetic in the cause of Christ. He had 
preached in the morning, and was preparing to preach at 
night when he took a spasm and died in a few hours. 

THE VOORHEESES. Abraham Voorhees. (1771— 
1860.) — This Elder was born in 1771, united with the Christian 
Church in Kentucky, in 1802 or '3, and was ordained in Preble 
County, O. , by Elders Reuben Dooley and Josiah Conger, in 
1812. He moved to Marshall County, Ind., where he re- 
mained until his death. He commenced preaching in the 
Presbyterian Church, but when the Christian Church was or- 
ganized, he was one among the first to embrace its doctrines, 
and he continued a steadfast believer in them to the last. He 
did not travel as much as some, but the churches near him 
were his care, and were in a prosperous condition at the time 



374 VOORHEES— WAGONER. 

of his death ; for, although old and feeble, he still preached 
until a few weeks before his death. He died July 31, 1860, 
in the ninetieth year of his age, after a ministry of more than 
sixty years. He was not talented as a speaker, but his pas- 
toral capacities were remarkable. His singleness of purpose 
and consistent life were greatly respected by all. 

John Voorhees was at one time a member of the Miami 
Christian Conference, but he left that body and the church for 
a time. He was on the eve of returning, when he died, in 

1850. 

John Voorhees was a member of the Tippecanoe Confer- 
ence, Ind., and died the year preceding the session of 1863. 

THE WADES. Caleb Wade was a brother of Elders 
Ebenezer and David Wade, both Christian ministers. He 
preached many years in his native state, Massachusetts, and 
was well respected by all with whom he was associated. He 
died in Otsego, N. Y., November 11, 1853, at the age of sev- 
enty years. 

Daved Wade is the second brother in the Wade family 
who were ministers in the Christian Church. He was a mem- 
ber of the New York Central Christian Conference for many 
years, but we have no definite account of his death. 

Ebenezer Wade. (1785 — 1864.) — Ebenezer was bom at 
Middlebury, Mass., April 20, 1785. He moved to Cuyahoga 
County, N. Y., in 1816, where he united with the Methodist 
Church and was licensed to preach by that body, which he did 
until 1821, when he met Elder Shaw, of the Christian Church. 
From him he learned the views of that body and as they met 
his approval, he united with the church and was ordained for 
the work of the ministry in the New York Central Christian 
Conference, of which he remained a faithful member until his 
death at West Nile, N. Y., August 8, 1864, at the age of sev- 
enty-nine years. He was the brother of Elders David and 
Caleb Wade, and father of Elders Joseph F. and Edwin R. 
Wade, and Mrs. Molancy Parker — all ministers in the Chris- 
tian Church. 

J. C. Wagoner. (1814— 1852.)— This Elder was born 
in Hunterdon County, N. J. , September, 1814, of Presbyterian 



WAGONER— W ALLEY. 375 

parentage. His father died when he was very small, and he 
was soon compelled to depend upon himself for subsistence 
and means of getting an education, which was quite limited. 
He was converted under the labors of Elder William Lane, 
and joined the Christian Church at Milford, N. J.' In 1841, 
he became a member of the New Jersey Christian Confer- 
ence, and at once began his labors in the ministry. In 1843, 
he was ordained, having taken charge of the church at Mil- 
ford, N. J., the year previous. In this place, he remained 
for three years ; at the end of that time he removed his family 
to Columbia County, N. Y., laboring successfully among the 
churches at Canaan, Chatham, and Lebanon for three years. 
He returned to Westbury, where he remained three years, 
then moved to Plainville, where he died, after a year's labor in 
that place, July 27, 1852, in his thirty-eighth year. He was 
highly spoken of as possessing more than ordinary energy and 
talent. He was sincere and conscientious in his work, and 
efficient as a pastor. He commenced his ministerial career in 
his native place, and continued a successful pastorate for three 
years in a place that had had some of the most talented men 
in the Christian Church to precede him. 

John Walker was brought up in Orange County, N. Y. 
He preached for many years in that state, then moved to Mis- 
souri, where he died. He was quite successful in the work. 

David Wallace. ( 1832.) — Elder Wallace was 

educated for a Presbyterian minister in his native state, Penn- 
sylvania, but taught school for several years. About 1801, 
he joined the Christians at Spring Dale, Hamilton County, O., 
under the labors of Elder Thompson, who soon after returned 
to the Presbyterians. Elder Wallace then took charge of the 
■churches left vacant by their old pastor. His field of labor 
was very extensive, and he was quite successful in his efforts. 
After ministering to different churches in Warren and Hamil- 
ton counties for many years, he returned to Pennsylvania, 
w r here he died in 1832, being an earnest worker to the last. 

William Wallet. (1822— 1869. )— William was bom 
in 1822, and died November 12, 1869. He was a member of 
the Central Ohio Conference, and was ordained September 2, 
1858. He traveled some in the West, and was a faithful, zeal- 
ous preacher. He died in Union County, O. 



376 WALTER. 

Isaac K Walter. (1805 — 1856.) — Very few men in the 
present century have performed such continued labor, in the 
same length of time, as Elder Walter. Commencing his 
career in the backwoods of Ohio, in an early day, his father 
dying when he was eleven years old, he received but seven- 
teen and a half months of com mom school education, and had 
access to but few books in his early life ; yet his sphere became 
one of the most conspicuous in its usefulness, not only as a 
preacher but as an editor and writer of note. It is true, he 
made no pretentions to learning, but in history and the practi- 
cal branches of education, he had acquired an extensive 
knowledge. But the peculiar success of Elder Walter was 
manifested in his pulpit labors, and his incessant activity in 
his ministerial work. As a pulpit orator, judging from the 
results, it would be difficult to find his superior ; for it must be 
remembered that in those days, a champion of the doctrines of 
the Christian Church was compelled to contend with the 
bitter persecution of sectarianism and many thought, indeed, 
that they were doing God a service when they put obstacles 
in the way of ministers of this unorthodox church, as it was 
considered. In the midst of all this opposition, we find this 
uneducated young man battling with the college bred giants 
of the popular churches, and not only coming out of the con- 
test victor, with thousands testifying to the truth of the cause 
which he was defending, but many more came forward with 
the purpose of devoting themselves to the advocacy of this 
cause. 

When he left the city of New York in 1840, on account of 
ill health, in his thirty-fifth year, he had not only brought the 
church, organized with seventeen members in 1834, to a mem- 
bership of five hundred, but had then baptized 2,343 persons, 
crossed the Alleghany Mountains thirty-one times, preached, 
on an average, one sermon a day for the preceding seven 
years, had baptized, in the city of New York, 517 persons, at- 
tended over 300 funerals, married 891 couples, and visited 
1,117 sick persons — all this in six years. The above will give 
an outline of his labor. In this sketch we can give but a 
glance at his fruitful life of over fifty-one years, and a minis- 
terial life of about thirty. 

Elder I. N. Walter, the son of John Walter, jr., and Mary 
his wife, was born in Highland County, O., January 27, 1805. 
His parents moved from Grayson County, Va., to Lees Creek, 
in Highland County, O., in 1797, having for their nearest 



WALTER. 377 

neighbors on the east, the inhabitants of Chillicothe, thirty- 
three miles away, and those of Cincinnati on the west, sixty 
miles away. They were connected with the society of Friends, 
although his mother afterward united with the Christians. 
When Isaac was a babe, a Scotch gentleman stopped at the 
cabin, and while there, predicted that the child would one day 
be a noted minister. When he was eleven years old, his 
father died, and from this time forward he was compelled 
to contend with all the disadvantages of poverty, and he did 
it manfully. During his youth, he greatly enjoyed the privi- 
leges of attending debating societies, in which he took an 
active part and was excelled by none. His social qualities 
were well developed even then ; and by common consent of his 
companions, Isaac was the leader in all the sports of youth. 

In 1823, ne was converted in a Methodist meeting, and 
joined that church on probation. From this time forward he 
was very conscientious in the performance of all church duties. 
As an instance of this, he spoke to his mother at breakfast, in 
the presence of others, saying, ''Mother, shall we not thank 
God for his mercies?" She answered quietly, "Yes, my son," 
and from that time forward there arose in that home, an altar 
of prayer where, as is the custom of the Quakers, there had 
been nothing to indicate the profession of religion, but the 
plain dress and speech and quiet way of living. Elder Wal- 
ter, from the time of his conversion, had been trying to avoid 
an intellectual, or soulless religion, as well as a firey, emotional 
one, and the conversations he held soon after, with Elder Long 
and Dr. Aldrich, were the means by which he became ac- 
quainted with the Christian Church and its views. These 
were very congenial to his mind, as the great arguments and 
discourses on creeds, doctrines, etc., of which he had heard so 
much heretofore, were very distasteful to him. Soon after 
meeting these ministers, he united with the Christian Church, 
and a year later, began to preach, and at once entered fully 
into the work, and such was his success, that a call was soon 
made for his ordination. Yet his first sermon was a complete 
failure. It is said by the residents of Plattsburg, in Clark Co., 
that his first sermon was delivered there, and that the boy was 
so mortified with his poor success that he ran away from his 
congregation, and hurried home, many miles away, without food 
or rest. In the days of his great success, friends were fond of 
telling this anecdote. August 14, 1825, he was ordained by 
Elders Britton, Long, Aldrich, and Zimmerman, near Charles- 
24 



378 WALTER. 

ton, Clark County, O. His field of labor was, at this time, 
very extensive, occupying some half a dozen counties. Great 
numbers were converted under his preaching in these places. 
July 26, 1826, he removed to Dublin, Franklin County, O., 
where he remained until his removal to New York City in 
1834. He held the pastorate of the church in Dublin during 
this time, but traveled extensively, holding protracted and 
camp meetings, which were very common in those days. He 
was, by this time, one of the leading ministers of the denomi- 
nation in the "W est. 

His first trip to the East was in company with Elder Long, 
starting from Ohio in the spring of 1827. These journeys 
were not accomplished so easily then as now, but they, nothing 
daunted at the prospect, started from Central Ohio, crossing 
the Ohio River at Wheeling, passing through South-western 
Pennsylvania to Maryland, turning sometimes to Virginia and 
North Carolina, at other times back to Pennsylvania, and 
thence to New York through New Jersey. From there, they 
went to New England, every where holding meetings of some 
kind, and sometimes preaching every day for months. Hun- 
dreds were converted and baptized during journeys of this 
kind. In 1833, he held a meeting of five or six weeks in New 
York City, and the year following, removed his family to 
that city and took the pastoral charge of the church organized 
by himself some time before. In 1840, he returned to his be- 
loved Ohio, and as soon as he recovered somewhat from the ill- 
ness brought on by his incessant and arduous labors during 
his stay in New York, he urged the proposition of building 
a college in the West, and in connection with others, labored 
to establish a religious periodical in Ohio. From this effort the 
"Gospel Herald" was published at the town of New Carlisle, 
Clark County, O., with Elder Walter as editor, in 1844. A 
western Christian hymn book was published about the same 
time. His connection with the "Herald," as editor, continued 
for three years, to the general satisfaction of the brotherhood. 
At the expiration of that time, he resigned the editorial chair, 
but contributed to it regularly to the end of his life. From 
New Carlisle he moved to Springfield, where his family re- 
mained until after his death, although he would often be gone 
from home for more than a year at one time. From 1846 
until the close of his career in 1856, with a shattered constitu- 
tion and ill health, he labored constantly, spending most of the 
time in Ohio. He visited different parts of the South and 



WALTER. 379 

East and spent ten months in New York City as pastor of the 
church again. In the month of March, 1855, while on his 
way to attend a meeting at Merom, Ind., he took a severe cold, 
and from the effects of this he never recovered. He was not 
able to preach until the following September, when he 
preached twice in Cincinnati, and baptized one person. This 
was his last effort. On the last day of June, 1856, he left 
home for a trip to the South and East, if health would permit, 
but that night, while in Columbus, O., he had a hemorrhage 
of the lungs, and after a repeated attack, he died triumphantly 
on July 9, 1856, in his fifty-second year. 

The life of Elder I. N. Walter, prepared with great care by 
Elder A. L. McKinney, was published two years after his 
death, and from this is taken the following, as showing the 
great success and arduous labor of this servant of God : "On 
January 27, 1855, he numbered his fiftieth year, over thirty 
of which he had been an active, efficient minister, having trav- 
eled a sufficient number of miles to girdle the earth a little 
over six times, had crossed the Alleghany Mountains fifty 
times, preached 8,243 sermons, attended 1,829 funerals, bap- 
tized 3,392 converts, received 8,971 into church membership, 
prayed with 1,907 sick persons, and had married l,052couples." 

The death of Elder Walter was most triumphant. He re- 
marked to one of the ministers who came to see him, "I have 
not preached thirty years for naught ; I am now going to my 
reward." To others he said, "See in what peace a Christian 
can die." About five minutes before he ceased to breathe, he 
said to his wife, "Is there a light in the room?" and on being 
answered in the affimative, he said : "The room is as dark as 
midnight to me, but I shall soon meet our children, James 
Henry, and Amanda, and friends gone before." He then said 
to his wife and children who were present, "Xow kiss me;" 
to his friends, "Now straighten my limbs." Then folding his 
arms across his breast, it was all over instantly. Thus ended 
the active, stirring life of our brother in the meridian of his 
days ; his strong constitution broke down at that period, the 
fire of his zeal in the good cause burned out his strength, and 
he passed away in triumph. He was fortunate in the selec- 
tion of a companion as the following will show : 

He was married April 15, 1824, to Miss Lydia Anderson, 
daughter of Major Anderson, an amiable, excellent lady, who 
was a worthy partner of his joys and sorrows, and who, by her 
unremitting and uncomplaining efforts, was an invaluable as- 



380 WALTER— WARD. 

sistant to her husband in his labors. In early life, when the 
pay for ministers labors was next to nothing, she worked as 
few women work, to keep the family. In later years, when r 
through incessant toil, her husband's health had failed him in 
a measure, Sister Walter was constant in her attention. 
Whether in aristocratic New York, or in the backwoods of 
Ohio, she was the same faithful companion, filling the station 
of wife, and mother in whatever position she might be placed. 
Her faithfulness as a wife, doubtless, made his ministry far 
more efficient than it would otherwise have been. After the 
death of her husband. Sister Walter manifested the same un- 
tiring interest in all the movements of the denomination as 
before. After sixteen years of widowhood, she died at her 
daughter's, Sarah Cathcart, in Springfield, O., in 1872. Thus 
after a short separation, the loving pair are united again. 

Joseph Warbington was an Ohio minister. He was 
brought up in Hamilton County, and was, for many years, a 
member of the Sycamore Christian Church. Moving to Shelby 
County, in the same state, where ministerial labor was scarce, 
and Brother Warbington being a zealous lay brother, as was 
often the custom in that day, he began to hold meetings near 
his, home, a few miles from Sidney, the county seat. Soon 
after, he was ordained to the full work and became a member 
of the Auglaize Conference, where he continued until death. 
He died several years, ago at his home in Shelby County, 
greatly lamented by his brethren. He was a farmer by occu- 
pation, but did much to build up the cause in his own and ad- 
joining counties. 

THE WARDS. C. G. Ward.— Although a fellow-stu- 
dent for a year or more with the subject of this sketch, in the 
Meadville Theological School, yet I have been able to find 
but few dates of his various changes. Before 1844, he was a 
minister laboring in the bounds of the Erie Conference, Penn. 
Feeling the want of more education, he was induced to attend 
a few sessions at the above school, although he was a married 
man and had a small family. He continued in Meadville for 
two years, and graduated in the two years course, in 1846. 
He then labored for some years in Chautauqua and adjoining 
counties in the states of New York and Pennsylvania. After- 
ward, he became a minister at large under {he patronage of 
the Unitarian Church, under the care of Dr. Elliott, in the city 



WARD— WASSON. 381 

of St. Louis, Mo. In this field, it is said he was quite success- 
ful. From Missouri he returned again to Pennsylvania, and 
during the coal oil excitement in Western Pennsylvania, he took 
the coal oil fever and for some time was engaged in that work. 
Failing of success, he moved to the State ot Indiana, and 
finally died, some years ago, in the city of Indianapolis. In the 
latter part of his life he was not eugaged in the regular min- 
istry, yet he preached occasionally, and was always warm and 
zealous on the subject of religion, and died in the faith that he 
preached so early in life. 

Simon Ward was a minister in the Christian Church who 
lived on Timber Ridge, Hampshire County, Va., for a number 
of years. He was a member of the Timber Ridge Church 
and of the Valley Conference, Va. He was somewhat local 
in his labors, but an earnest and zealous advocate of the Chris- 
tian doctrine, and very firm in his conviction. He was a 
neighbor of Elders Alamong and Sine, and a co-laborer with 
these and others in that part of Virginia. He died at his 
home about 1875, not far from seventy-three years of age. 

J. Warren was a minister of North Carolina, and the first 
traveling companion of the "White Pilgrim" in 1807, and 
was then advanced in years. 

Joseph Wasson. (1782 — 1854.) — Joseph was a pure- 
hearted, conscientious man, devoting his entire energy to the 
spread of the gospel, and receiving but little or no remunera- 
tion for his services. He was a man of fine constitution, but 
the privations and hardships that he endured without com- 
plaint were very great indeed. He was a lover of peace, and 
at the time of the division between the Christians and Disci- 
ples, he, although firm in his conviction, was very anxious to 
heal the breach, and though he failed in his object, yet it is 
said that he was the principal agent in the preservation of the 
Christian Church in South-western Indiana. 

He was born in North Carolina, August 13, 1782, and was 
the son of James and Catherine Wasson, members of the Pres- 
byterian Church, in which church he grew up, but was con- 
verted at the Cane Ridge revival, and united with the new 
body called "Christians." He began to preach in 1810, moved 
to Indiana in 1812, and was ordained soon after by Elders 
Kinkade, Aldridge, Miller, and Moutry. As a pastor, he was 



382 WASSON— WELLONS. 

well liked, and the churches of his charge were generally in 
a very prosperous condition. He had few enemies, and was 
acknowledged by his most bitter opponents to be a good, 
although mistaken, man. He died July 13, 1854, in the sev- 
enty-second } r ear of his age. 

Howard Watkins. (1812 .)— This Elder was a 

Vermont minister. He was born in 1812, was converted in 
1833, and commpnced preaching in 1837. We have no ac- 
count of the time of his death. 

Edward Webber. (1794 — 1842.) — Our present subject 
was born in New Hampshire in 1794, was converted in 1812, 
and began to preach soon after. He traveled and preached 
through different parts of New Hampshire and New York, 
and was ordained at the town of Kortright, N. Y., Decem- 
ber 2, 1816. During his stay in this state, he was very suc- 
cessful, and indicated, in some degree, by his labor what his 
future might have been had he devoted 'himself wholly to the 
ministry. But on his return to New Hampshire, his aged pa- 
rents demanded his care. He soon received some public office, 
and his time and attention were so fully occupied that he gave 
up his active ministry for several years before his death, 
although preaching occasionally. He died at his home "in 
Kuinney, N. H., April 6, 1842, when in his fiftieth year. 

William Brock Wellons. (1821— 1877.)— Elder Wei- 
lons rose from comparative obscurity to be, decidedly, the lead- 
ing man in the Christian Church in the Southern States. 
Commencing his religious career in 1834, at the age of thir- 
teen, and being called away in 1877, in his fifty-sixth year, the 
intervening forty two years make as active a period of labor 
as is rarely found in the life of one man. The substance of 
the following sketch is taken from an address delivered at the 
time of his burial : 

He was the son of Hartwell and Mary W. Wellons, a re- 
ligious couple that lived, at the time of his birth, on a farm 
near Littleton, Sussex County, Va. His father was a sub- 
stantial farmer and a prominent, active member of the Chris- 
tian Church at the Barrett's meeting-house in the adjoining 
county of Southampton. His mother was a woman of mild 
disposition and deep piety. The boy's early life was spent on 
a farm. His education was such as could be acquired by win- 



WELLOXS. 383 

ter schooling, and the care of wise and prndent parents, to- 
gether with the boy's industry during that early period of life. 
At a camp meeting, held at Mar's Hill, he was converted, Octo- 
ber 21, 1834. In the next month, Xovember, he united with 
the church at Barrett's.- This act became a stimulant to him, 
not only in his religious progress, but in his intellectual pursuits 
as well. In- 1840, he began to teach school and at the same 
time held social and prayer meetings with great success. 
Many were converted during these meetings. He continued 
teaching at Airfield, Southampton County, for two years. In 
1845, he joined the Eastern Conference, Va., as a licenciate, 
and the next year was ordained by the same body. Soon he 
became a successful pastor and very efficient as a revivalist. 
At this period, he devoted the most of his time to the work of 
an evangelist, traveling as an itinerant minister among the 
churches. His labor in this work was peculiarly successful, 
and many were converted under his preaching, but in the lat- 
ter part of the year 1848, he settled as pastor of the Christian 
Church in Xewberne, X. C. While in this field, he formed 
the acquaintance of an excellent widow lady, near his own 
age, Mrs. Sarah L. Beasley, to whom he was married April 
12, 1850. Immediately after his marriage, he moved to Suf- 
folk, Va., where he. continued to reside the remainder of his 
life, and where he died, of pulmonary consumption, February 
16, 1877, in his fifty-sixth year. 

Before this time, Elder Wellons had been a regular contrib- 
utor of the "Christian Sun," the denominational organ of the 
Christians in the South, founded by Elder Kerr in 1844, and 
carried on, afterward, at Ealeigh, X. C, by Elder H. B. 
Hayes and others , and with which he had been connected as 
associate editor since 1849. In 1855, he became editor-in-chief, 
and the paper was moved to his home in Suffolk. This paper 
he continued to publish and edit until the War of the Kebel- 
lion, and at the close of the war, it was renewed by him on his 
own expense, thus becoming proprietor as well as manager. 
This he continued to conduct until 1876, when, on account of 
failing health, it was transferred to other hands and finally 
sold by him before his death. Thus we see that for more than 
a quarter of a century he was an active agent in the publish- 
ing interest of the church. In every department of labor he 
was very successful. For many years, while editing and pub- 
lishing the "Sun," he was one of the most successful pastors of 
four or more churches in his neighborhood. Under his appoint- 



384 WELLONS. 

ment of only once a month, these churches became very strong, 
numbering several hundied members. At the Antioch church, 
m 1859, sixty-five candidates were baptized by him in just 
thirty four minutes, although indisposed at the time. One year 
before, the same number were baptized. The church numbered 
450 members in 1859. The other churches of his care were 
also prosperous. Beside his editorial work and the manage- 
ment of the finances of the publishing department and his ar- 
duous work as a preacher and pastor, he was very active in 
the temperance work, being an officer in many of the organi- 
zations for the promotion of that reform. Indeed, in 1876, he 
w 7 as pastor of Suffolk and Bethlehem churches, editor of the 
"Sun," President of the Suffolk Collegiate Institute, President 
of the General Christian Convention of the South, President 
of the Eastern Virginia Conference, Secretary of the Supreme 
Council of Friends of Temperance, Secretary of the Virginia 
Friends of Temperance, and Corresponding Secretary of the 
Association of "Union Christian Churches of America." In 
all these, his offices were by no means nominal, but he himself 
was one of the leading spirits in them all. 

By marriage, Elder Wellons became the owner of slaves, at 
a time v hen it cost something to be, not only an Abolitionist 
in the North, but to be a slaveholder in one of the border 
states like Virginia. It is too early in the day, yet, to judge 
fairly the slave issue in the United States in the last forty 
years. The Elder, like those of his co-religionists in all the 
churches in the slave states believed that slavery was right. 
This had been taught him from his infancy, not less by min- 
isters of the gospel than by politicians ; nevertheless, it became 
the greatest sorrow of his life. Northern ministers that visited 
his home and his churches speak of him as very kind to his 
servants. He himself was, also, for many years, very friendly 
to the northern ministers and the northern branch of the 
church, in spite of their anti-slavery proclivities. In this spirit, 
Elder Wellons attended the general Quadrennial Convention 
of the church held in Cincinnati, in 1854. The anti-slavery 
element ran high in that body, he himself being on the com- 
mittee to report on the subject. He introduced a minority re- 
port, partly justifying the institution, but the discussion be- 
came so warm that, with many tears, he left the body, never 
uniting heartily with the northern branch of the church again, 
but doubling his energy to make the southern branch as pros- 
perous as possible. 



WELLONS. 385 

When the war cloud of the Rebellion hovered over his be- 
loved native state, he was a staunch Union man, and did what 
he could to stay the tide of secession, but when his state se- 
ceeded, in keeping with the general southern sentiment of 
State Rights, he followed it and became as active a secessionist 
as he had been a Union man before. Through the first year of 
the war, he continued his work in Suffolk, as editor and minis- 
ter, but when Suffolk was evacuated by the Confederates and the 
Union army was about to take possession, he left his home and 
much of his property and moved to Petersburg. Here he was 
as active as ever, doing all he could for the failing cause, but 
mostly in his sphere of a religious man and minister. 

At this time, he became editor and manager of the "Army 
and Navy Messenger," a religious periodical published by the 
Evangelic Tract Society for distribution among the Confeder- 
ate soldiers and sailors. He also continued his ministerial la- 
bors, preaching frequently, especially in hospitals and among 
the sick and wounded, and often visiting battle-fields to admin- 
ister to the wants of the sick, wounded, and dying. When 
Lee surrendered at Appomatox, he hurried to Green sborough, 
78. C, to assist Johnson's forces ; but before he reached that 
place, Johnson, too, had given up the unequal contest. Our 
subject then turned to his home in Suffolk to abide the result 
of the war. His home was desolate. The house was dis- 
mantled, type and presses were cast into the river, and desola- 
tion and dismay ruled supreme. 

Thus, in 1865, he found himself poor, homeless, disloyal to 
his government, the church of his choice scattered, thousands 
of his brethren killed, and the faithful work of twenty years 
blasted. But he was not the man to stand still and repine. 
He began to preach, re-organized the churches, called the scat- 
tered members together, urged submission and good behavior 
on his fellow-confederates, borrowed money to start the "Sun" 
afresh, and in a short time, in connection with his faithful co- 
workers, the Christian Church in the South assumed form and 
symmetry. 

In 1866, he was appointed President of the general conven 
tion of the church in the South, held at Mt. Auburn, N. C. 
This body drew up and published a volume containing its 
"Declaration of Principles," together with forms and rituals to 
be used by the body. Some of the churches and members 
opposed this measure, as an innovation in the church ; but by 
the strong influence of Elder Wellons and other?, it ^a. 3 oar- 



386 WELLONS-WELTON. 

ried, and it remains in use at this time. The views expressed 
in this "Declaration of Principles" are about the same as those 
held by the denomination generally. Some years before his 
death, he became very active in a "Christian Union" move- 
ment, an organization started for the purpose of uniting the 
various denominations of Christians in one body. 

He died before reaching the period of old age, greatly la- 
mented by his co-laborers in the work. His career was not 
long, but it was so active that he lived a long life in a few 
years. In 1874, the honorary title of Doctor of Divinity was 
conferred upon him by the Trustees of Rutherford College, N. 
C, in consideration of his eminent ability as a theologian. 

THE WELLSES. Walter Wells was a minister in 
Switzerland County, Ind., at the time of his death. 

Zacheus Wells. (1778 — 1845.) — This Elder was a mem- 
ber of the Indiana Central Conference at the time of his death, 
although he had spent the greater part of his life in Vermont, 
in which state he commenced preaching, in 1818. He died in 
Allensville, Ind., September 22, 1845, from apoplexy, in the 
sixty-seventh year of his age. 

James Welton. (1786 — 1871.) — James was born in 
Bradford, Vt., May 4, 1786. He was converted under the 
labors of Elder Abner Jones, in 1802, and united with the 
first Christian Church in New England. He began to preach 
soon after, through the encouragement of Elder Jones and 
others. He labored lor some time with good success, but be- 
came discouraged, and ceased preaching for several years. In 
1822, he re-commenced his work in the ministry, joining the 
Vermont Conference. In 1832, he moved to New York, in 
1833, joined the New York Central Conference, and a year 
later, was ordained. In 1836, he moved to Covington, Penn., 
in which state he remained until death. He died April 10, 
1871, aged eighty-five years. 

He was married in 1813, to Miss Susana Chase, with whom 
he lived happily until her death. She died in 1853, leaving 
a son, Rev. A. J. Wei ton, and three daughters. From the 
many letters written to our periodicals by this earnest brother, 
we judge that he was an energetic person, doing whatever he 
did with all his might. His field of labor, in the latter part 
of his life, was in Northern Pennsylvania and Southern New 



WELTON— WHETSTONE. 387 

York, embracing Tioga County, Penn., and Steuben, Chemung, 
Tioga, and Broom counties, N. Y. He was buried at Coving- 
ton, Penn., by the side of his companion, who had preceded 
him eighteen years. 

John West was a minister in Virginia in an early day. 
Elder James Burlingame speaks of him as a man of talent. 
He died many years ago. 

James Weston. (1770 — 1841.) — James was born in 
New Hampshire. He moved into Rockingham, Yt, w T hen 
quite young, and while there, embraced religion among the 
Methodist-". He afterward became a preacher in that denom- 
ination. After preaching in Vermont for some time, he 
moved to Schuyler, N. Y., still continuing an active ministry. 
In the year 1812, he moved with his family to Mentz, Cayuga 
County, at that time a howling wilderness. Some fifteen 
years before his death, he gave a large sum of money toward 
the erection of a chapel that was to be opened to ministers of 
all denominations. But when he heard the minister in the 
dedication sermon advise that the doors should be closed to all 
except the Methodists, and that the Christians should be ex- 
cluded, he meekly took up his hat and walked out, observing 
to a friend that he had been striving to live a christian life for 
twenty years, and if they were driven out, he would go with 
them. He did so, and in 1827, he joined the Western 
Christian Conference, of which he continued a useful mem- 
ber until his death. He died May 30, 1841, aged seventy-one 
years, with a full belief in the gospel that he had preached for 
thirty-five years. 

THE WHETSTONES. Simon Whetstone, sr. (1807 
— 1859.) — This Elder was born in Fayette County, O., in 
1807, and was converted in that place in 1829. In 1850, he 
was ordained in the Auglaize Christian Conference, having la- 
bored as a licentiate for many years before. His greatest 
power was witnessed in revivals, as he was an earnest and en- 
thusiastic speaker when he saw before him the penitent and 
humble seeker, and realized what a loss they would sustain if 
they went away without the blessing. He died from the ef- 
fects of cold, contracted in a damp bed after the exhaustion of 
severe pulpit labor, February 16, 1859, in his fifty-second 
year. 



388 WHETSTONE— WHITE. 

Simon Whetstone, jr. ( 1880.) — This young min- 
ister, a son of the preceding, was brought up under the care 
of a zealous christian father. He embraced religion early, and 
began to preach when young. He was married to a daughter 
of Elder D. Richardson, and was a zealous member of the 
Ohio North-western Conference. He died February 13, 1880, 
praising God with his last breath. 

Samuel Whisler. (1811 — 1876.) — This brother was born 
in Bucks County, Penn., May 24, 1811, and moved with his 
parents to Columbiana County, O., in 1821. In this place, he 
was married to Elizabeth R. Pike in 1837, was converted in 
1849, commenced preaching soon after, and in 1851, moved 
to Whitley County, Ind. From the latter place, in 1855, he 
moved to Edna, Cass County, Iowa, and was ordained by the 
Iowa South-western Conference in 1860. He died November 
18, 1876. 

THE WHITAKERS. Steven Whitaker. (1772— 
1857.) — This aged brother died at his home in Sheridan, Chau- 
tauqua County, N. Y., April 1, 1857, in the eighty -fifth year 
of his age. He was converted in Hopkinton, N. H., in 1815, 
under the labors of Elder Abner Jones. A year later, he 
moved to Schuyler, N. Y., where, soon after, a prosperous 
church was organized, principally through his own labors, al- 
though he was not ordained until 1829, thirteen years later. 
In 1834, he moved to Sheridan, Chautauqua County, N. Y., 
where he ministered faithfully to the wants of the brethren un- 
til old age came on him, and he retired from the active minis- 
try. He was more useful as an evangelist than in the more 
confining duties of a pastor. 

Whitaker was a minister of Carrol County, O., 

and was quite local in his labors. He died several years ago. 

Amos Whitcomb. (1788 — 1840.) — Our present subject 
was a native of the State of New York. He moved to Mich- 
igan in 1835. He was a live and active worker in the church 
and conference, and was deeply lamented by his friends and 
parishoners in Kalamazoo, Mich., where he died August 13, 
1840, aged fifty-two years. 

THE WHITES. Aaron White was a minister in Indi- 
ana. He died there some years ago. 






WHITE. 389 

Henry White. (1807— 1864.)— The subject of this sketch 
had been a minister of the gospel for nearly thirty years at the 
time of his death, having spent the greater part of this time 
in the bounds of the Indiana Central Conference. Although 
a man of limited education and poor health, he wielded a pow- 
erful influence over his different congregations, and accom- 
plished much good, both as a successful pastor and as a trust- 
worthy counsellor. He died suddenly, of heart disease, in. 
Taylorsville, Lid., February 16^ 1864, in the fifty-seventh 
year of his age. In his ministerial work, he deceived his ap- 
pearance greatly. Generally poorly clad, and otherwise ob- 
scure looking, his tact and skill as a speaker were wonderful. 

Henry White. (1815— 1838.)— This Elder was yery 
young, and although of short career, was greatly lamented by 
his co-laborers. He was born in 1815, and learned the trade 
of tailor, which he followed for some time. He commenced 
preaching soon after his conversion, some two or three years 
before his ordination, in 1838, as pastor of the church of Matta- 
poisett, Mass., by Elders Jones, Morgridge, and others. He 
had attended school during the time between his conversion 
and ordination, and had given signs of great worth. In 1838 r 
his health failed and he resigned the pastorate he had held for 
two years, and went to Havana, Cuba, where he died soon 
after, in the twenty-fourth year of his age. 

Thomas White. (1806 — 1858.) — Thomas was born on 
the Welsh Hills, in Licking County, O., in 1806, being of 
Welsh descent. After receiving a somewhat better education 
than was commonly given in those days, he commenced teach- 
ing, and was very successful in that profession. He was con- 
verted when quite young, and united with the Christian 
Church near Granville, O. He did not commence his minis- 
try until 1840, when he became a member of the Ohio Central 
Conference ; and after its division into two conferences, by lo- 
cality, he became a member of the Mt. Vernon Conference. 
His labors in Ohio were confined chiefly to Licking and Knox 
counties, where he was quite successful in his pastoral rela- 
tions. He was considered by his brethren as a man of strong 
mind, but not an eloquent speaker or a strong revivalist, al- 
though a very successful pastor. About 1851, the care of a 
large family, and limited circumstances, induced him to move 
to the West, and he settled in Green County, Wis., where he 



390 WHITE— WHITFIELD. 

still labored in the ministry, as health would permit, until his 
death. He died in 1858, at Jordan, Wis., in his fifty-second 
year. 

Elder White was the first Christian minister the compiler 
conversed with, and under his administration, he was received 
into the church in 1843, and was baptized by him some time 
after. The White family, though in limited circumstances, 
became quite noted in Licking County, O. Samuel, a brother 
of Thomas, became a very prominent lawyer, a leading anti- 
slavery man, and a member of the legislature. He died in 
1844, while standing as a candidate for Congress. Our sub- 
ject, also, as well as other members of the same family, was 
quite talented. 

William White. (1806 — 1875.) — This brother was born 
in 1806, and was killed November 5, 1875. He was riding 
in a buggy, by the side of his wife, near Ithaca, N. Y., and, 
when about to cross the railroad track, the train came, he was 
thrown from his buggy and instantly killed. 

James Whitehead. ( 1841.) — This aged veteran, 

after leaving his friends in New York and Pennsylvania, where 
he had labored for many years, died at Vermillion ville, 111., 
August 4, 1841. His age is not given, but he was quite old 
as he had been a minister in the Christian Church since 1803. 

Frederick Whitfleld. ( 1864.) — Frederick was 

a native of England and received his education in that coun- 
try. He was a nephew of the celebrated Methodist divine, 
George Whitfield, and after emigrating to New Brunswick, 
he began to preach the Methodist doctrine, but from a diligent 
study of the Bible, he came to the conclusion that many un- 
scriptural things were taught in the discipline, and conse- 
quently abandoned it, together with his sectarian name, and 
took the New Testament as his rule claiming no name but 
Christian. At this time, he had no knowledge of a body 
claiming such views and name, but after emigrating to Canada 
West, he became acquainted with some of our ministers, soon 
united with them, was ordained at Saltfleet, June 11, 1832, 
by Elder J. Badger and others, and became one of the most in- 
fluential and zealous of our ministers in the Province, laboring 
there for many years with great success. In 1848, he removed 
to Iona County, Mich., where he labored until 1860, when he 



WHITFIELD— WILKLNS. 391 

returned to Canada and settled at Burford, where he died 
about 1864. He had preached very successfully in Canada, 
Michigan, and New York, and at one time published a relig- 
ious periodical in Canada. 

Daniel Whitley. (1776 — 1841.) — This brother was born 
about 1776, in early life he became a member of the Methodist 
Church, and continued in that body for many years. In 1821, 
he began to preach in the Christian Church, having become a 
member a few months before, and was a faithful worker in the 
vineyard for nearly twenty years. He died at his home in 
Smithfield, Va., January 3, 1841, in his sixty-fifth year. 

Isaac Whitlow. ( 1860.) — Isaac was a native of 

Indiana, was a member of the Tippecanoe Christian Confer- 
ence, and died in 1860. 

David Whitman was a brother of Elder Thomas Whit- 
man. He was converted under the labors of Elder Hallet 
Barber when young, and soon after began to preach. He was 
faithful and zealous, and his prospects for future usefulness 
were bright. He Decaine a member of the Tippecanoe Confer- 
ence, Ind., and died in the work in 1852. 

William Whitten was a native of England, and from 
1810 until 1819, was a prominent minister in New Bedford 
and other places in Massachusetts. He returned to England in 
1819, after a stay in America of about seventeen years. He 
was an intimate friend of Elder Levi Hathaway, and is often 
spoken of in the autobiography of the latter. 

Samuel Wilde. (1805 — 1875.) — Samuel was born in 
1805, embraced religion early, began to preach, and was so 
successful, that he was ordained soon after. His health failed 
soon, so that his labors were cut short. He died in New Bed- 
ford, Mass., December 26, 1875. His lot was to suffer more 
than to labor. 

Francis A. Wilkins. (1811 — 1874.) — Francis was born 
in Highland County, O., September 25, 1811, moved to Indi- 
ana with his parents, and was married to Miss Hester Bates, 
who died in 1848. In 1850, he was married to Miss Jane Van 
Ausdal, who died June 11, 1864. He then moved to Minne- 



392 WILKINS— WILLIAMS. 

sota, where lie died May 8, 1874. He was a good man and 
an able preacher. 

THE WILLIAMSES. Abraham Williams. (1806— 
1845.) — Abraham was in the ministry but a short time before 
his death. He was born in 1806, and died near Williamsport, 
O., September 13, 1845, aged thirty-nine years. He was pas- 
tor of the Hay Ran Church for some time before his death, 
and exerted a good influence over his parishioners. 

George A. Williams lived in Johnston, R. I. , for many 
years, and was a minister of the gospel about fifteen years. 
He died near Worcester, Mass. 

Jedtjthun Williams. (1799— 1879.)— Elder B. A. 
Cooper sends the following items of his intimate friend and co- 
laborer for many years : Elder Williams was born April 27, 
1799, was converted under the labors of Elder William Cald- 
field, and was married September 7, 1824, to Miss Mary Cal- 
houn. Both were then members of the Christian Church, she 
having joined the first Christian Church in the neighborhood, 
the Clear Ridge, now Clearfield Church. This church was or- 
ganized by Elder William Caldwell, and out of it grew Rock- 
field and Mt. Union. Through the recommendation of El- 
der Caldwell, Brother Williams was ordained December 11, 
1836, and was left with the care of the churches in the vicinity, 
when the former moved to the West, He labored faithfully 
until others came to his assistance. His voice was weak, and 
his delivery was not the best, but his pure life, fatherly coun- 
sel, and his great zeal made him a successful pastor. Though 
his education was limited, his knowledge of the Scripture was 
quite good. He was firm in his conviction of what he considered 
the truth. His house Avas often used for a place of worship, 
as well as the preacher's home, while his devoted wife was 
equally hospitable and generous in the good cause. His min- 
isterial labors were local, confined mostly to the Ray's Hill 
Conference, of which he was an honored member until his 
death, August 6, 1879, in his eighty-first year. 

John Williams. (1786— 1847.)— John was bom m 1786, 
was converted in 1808, began to preach in 1817, but never de- 
voted his time wholly to the ministry. He lived on his farm 
in Miami County, O., for over forty years, and died there 



WILLIAMS— WILLIAMSON. 393 

from dropsy, December 20, 1847. His education was limited, 
but he was a very energetic man, a successful preacher, and, 
in a local way, did a great amount of good in his day. 

S. J. Williams. ( 1863.) — This brother was a 

minister of the Southern Indiana and Illinois Conference, and 
died in 1863. 

Zachariah Williams lived in Lewis County, Ky., and 
died there about 1850. He labored through Ohio and Ken- 
tucky in an early day, with wonderful success. He had 
a strong voice, and was a loud and earnest speaker. There is 
an anecdote told of this brother that shows his confidence in 
the efficacy of prayer. When his wife opposed his preaching, 
he prayed that the Lord would either convert or kill her. She 
being taken sick about that time, he became fearful that his 
prayer was about to be answered. He prayed earnestly that 
she should not die, and she recovered. 

Francis Williamson. (1773— 1833.)— This Elder was 
born in Southampton County, Va., November 19, 1773. His 
parents w T ere in good circumstances, for his father's greatest 
ambitiou was the accumulation of property, but his mother, a 
talented and noble-minded woman, sought for higher attain- 
ments, and so instructed her children, although she had not 
made a profession of religion while Francis was young. His 
only chance for religious enjoyment during his youth was in 
the cabins of his father's slaves. Although the son of a rich 
planter, his educational facilities were greatly neglected, but 
with a great longing and thirst for education, he was enabled to 
acquire some knowledge of the common branches and history, 
before leaving his father's house. September 17, 1801, he 
married Miss Elizabeth Warrell, of whom he had eight chil- 
dren, four of whom were brought up to maturity. After his 
marriage, he moved to Hertford County, N. C, where he 
lived in affluent circumstances, devoting much of his time and 
energy to the acquirement of useful knowledge. In this place, 
he and his wife united with the Methodist Church, and he soon 
began to preach, and was ordained to the work of the ministry 
in that denomination. But while a zealous and faithful min- 
ister, he maintained that independence of mind which could 
brook no interference from human creeds, and as he did not 
work in harmony, with the rules of the church, he was dis- 
25 



394 WILLIAMSON. 

owned by that body, although he continued the ministry alone, 
as regards ministerial relations, with the same ardor and zeal 
that had characterized his labors heretofore, and was very suc- 
cessful in leading souls to Christ. This was his condition at 
the time of the division in the conference from the introduction 
of Episcopacy by Dr. Coke and Bishop Asbury, and he soon 
joined the O'Kelly party, as it was called, and became one of 
the leading advocates of a free gospel. The movement was 
new and different views were held by the different ministers 
who withdrew with O'Kelly, but they decided upon these 
points: the name "Christian," "Bible alone for a creed," and 
the "right of private judgment" to each individual member, 
The Elder built a convenient frame meeting-house on his plan- 
tation, and organized a thriving church on these views. The 
party that had withdrawn from the Methodists now organized 
themselves into two conferences, one in Central North Caro- 
lina, and the other in Northern North Carolina and Virgina, 
and our brother was connected with the latter body. He and 
his w T ife were baptized by immersion by Nelson Millar, and im- 
mersion soon became the prevailing mode of baptism, though 
bitterly opposed by James O'Kelly, who insisted on effusion or 
sprinkling, while Elder Williamson and the majority insisted 
only that the candidate should be free to choose for himself. 
While in one of these discussions, as O'Kelly was trying to 
fasten his peculiar mode on the churches, the noted answer 
of William Guiry was given as to the leader of the movement. 
"Neither you nor I ; Christ is the leader of his own church." 
In 1822, in company with his eldest son, Elijah, he made a 
journey to Ohio as far as Columbus, and was surprised, as well 
as pleased, to find so many brethren of the same faith, converts 
from the great reformation in Kentucky. With these he had 
heavenly meetings, and great success attended his labors, es- 
pecially in Columbiana County, where scores were brought to 
"a means of saving grace." At the session of 1822, of the 
conference of which the Elder was a member, while he was 
absent, the body adopted a constitution which was construed 
by Elder Lindsay and others into a creed, and in the session 
of 1823, he was among those who opposed the constitution with 
all his power, but the majority voted against him, and for this 
reason he left the conference and refused to unite with the 
body again, although he continued an active minister until his 
death, at Murfreesborough, Tenn., September 11, 1833, at 
the age of sixty years. 



WILLIAMSON— WILSON. 395 

He had, from conscience, liberated all his slaves in spite of 
the great opposition of his slave-holding brethren, choosing to 
live in comparative poverty rather than to enjoy riches in what 
he considered wrong doing. He was a very conscientious man, 
and in all his movements, he never consulted expediency in 
matters of religion. For him to believe that a certain course 
was right, was sufficient, and he followed it with no regard to 
consequences. This is apparent in his withdrawal from the 
Methodists in the independent manner he did, at a time, too, 
when persecution ran high in all the country, and also his dis- 
connection with the Virginia Conference. It is probable that 
the constitution adopted by that body, was nothing more than 
a declaration, in writing, of the liberal principles of the Chris- 
tian Church, but to his mind it savored of creed — man-made 
creed, and with these impressions he withdrew. But more 
particularly do we see the workings of conscience, in the liber- 
ation of all his slaves, by this act, not only bringing upon him- 
self great loss of property, but the distrust and unfriendliness 
of his slave-holding neighbors ; but regardless of all this, as 
soon as he felt this act to be a duty, he did it. 

In the preparation of his sermons, his sons say that he spent 
two or three hours a day in a room by himself, in prayer and 
study, where he also wrote his sermons, although the written 
sermons were never taken to the pulpit with him, nor even the 
notes. In his delivery he began with a moderate voice, but as 
he grew interested in his subject, he spoke with greater force, 
and even became quite excited towards the close. 

THE WILSONS. H. Wilson lived in Drayton, Canada, 
and organized a Christian Church there about 1849. He was 
an excellent man, and died many years ago. 

James Wilson came with Jabez King and Jonathan 
Thompson to New York from Vermont, in 1813, and was ad- 
vanced in years at that time. He assisted in the ordination of 
Elder Samuel P. Allen. 

Leonard Wilson. ( 1863.) — This minister was a 

member of the Tippecanoe Indiana Conference, and died in 
1863. 

Matthew, William, and Zachamah Wilson. — These 
three ministers labored in Kentucky in an early day. We are 
nformed that all three have been dead some years. 



WILSON— WOOD. 

Samuel Wilson began to preach near William sport, O., 
and after preaching in that vicinity for several years, moved to 
Southern Illinois, where he died about 1840. 

Lewis Winans. (1789 — 1865.) — Lewis was born in 1789, 
was converted in 1825, and was ordained in the New York 
Eastern Conference in 1832. He was pastor of the churches of 
Gilboa, Schoharie, Koxbury, and Olive Bridge, in the counties 
of Schoharie, Delaware, and Ulster. He died at Shokan, Ul- 
ster County, N. Y., June 14, 1865, in the seventy-fifth year of 
his age. 

Moses Winchester. (1798 — 1868.) — Moses was born in 
Westmoreland, N. H., in March, 1798, where he commenced 
preaching, and where he spent his life, with the exception of a 
few years. These were spent in Shrewsbury, Vt., where he 
died March 7, 1868, aged seventy years. He was a quiet, un- 
assuming man, very fortunate in his pastoral relations, and 
quite a good preacher. 

John Winkly. ( 1869.) — This minister was a res- 
ident of Stafford, N. H., some years, and died there in 1869. 

James Winters. (1797 — 1867.) — James was a native of 
New York, but moved to Ohio at an early age. He was con- 
verted, united with the United Brethren Church, and was a 
minister of that denominatin until 1863, when he united with 
the Christian Church, and was baptized by his brother, Elder 
John Winters. He was a member of the Tippecanoe Chris- 
tian Conference, Ind., at the time of his death, March 23, 
1867, in the seventy-first year of his age. 

THE WOODS. Israel Wood. ( 1866.)— This 

brother was an aged minister at the time of his death at Fall 
River, Mass., September 20, 1866. He was a member of the 
Rhode Island and Massachusetts Christian Conference in 1840. 

John Wood. (1799 — 1863.) — John was a minister in the 
regular Baptist Church until 1859, four years before his death, 
when he joined the Indiana Union Christian Conference. He 
died in Gibson County, Ind., December 7, 1863, at the age of 
sixtv-four. 



WOOD— WORLEY. 397 

Squire Wood. (1819— 1856.)— This Elder was born in 
1819. He was pastor of the Salimony Church, Huntington 
County, IncL, at the time of his death, February 15, 1856. 

Pontius Wooley. ( 1828.) — This minister died in 

♦Sandusky, O., August 16, 1828. He is mentioned in the let- 
ters of the early ministers, as a prominent and useful man in 
the denomination. 

Samuel Workman traveled and preached in Southern 
Indiana and Kentucky, in an early day, and has been dead 
some years. 

THE WORLEYS. Caleb Worley. (1795—1870.)— 
Caleb was the eldest son of Elder Nathan Worley. He was 
born in Kentucky in 1795, was converted, and began to preach 
early in life. Although he never possessed the peculiar gifts 
of his father, as a speaker, yet he became an able and useful 
minister. He became somewhat deaf when young, and it be- 
came worse as he grew older, till, in old age, it was very diffi- 
cult to converse with him . This crippled his usefulness, to a 
great extent, although he continued to labor with great zeal 
until quite old. He lived in Covington, Miami County, O., 
for many years, and there raised an excellent family. He 
died in that place in 1870, at the age of seventy-five. 

Malcolm Worley was an older brother of the follow- 
ing, Elder Nathan Worley, and was educated for a Pres- 
byterian clergyman, but at the time of the Cane Ridge revival 
he united with the Christians and preached among them until 
the Shakers came from New York, when he joined them, giv- 
ing them all his property. He is mentioned here with McNe- 
mar, Dunlevy, Marshall, and Thompson, as one of the founders 
of the Christian denomination in the West. He vas a man of 
talent, but somewhat eccentric in his manner. He has been 
dead many years. 

Nathan Worley. (1773—1847.) — Nathan was born 
January 7, 1773, on the James River, in Botetourt County, 
Va. His parents were members of the Presbyterian Church, 
and his father was a ruling elder in that body for many years. 
When Nathan was tourteen years of age, his parents moved to 
Kentucky and settled at Lexington. His father was not able 



398 WORLEY. 

to give 'all his children a finished education, and as was the 
custom with some Presbyterian parents in that day, he chose 
one who should receive a classical education to fit him for a 
ministerial career. The choice fell on Malcolm, an older sou, 
and the rest received such as they could get in those early 
days. His father died in 1788, when Nathan was fifteen years 
of age, and three years later, March 2, 1791, he was married 
to Miss Rachel Greer, of Fayette County, Ky., and in the 
same year, he and his wife joined the Presbyterian Church, 
but after the separation in 1804, he left that body and joined 
the Dissenters. 

In 1805, he moved his family to Ohio on his own land, near 
the, at that time, village of Dayton, and although he toiled 
early and late for the support of his family in this new coun- 
try, he did not lose the spirit of reformation of which he had 
taken so largely while in Kentucky. Here he called the peo- 
ple together for prayer meetings, and prayed and exhorted 
them to repent of their ways. He had the entire confidence of 
his neighbors, and by the influence of his example, many were 
converted. He met, at this time, many severe trials and dis- 
couragements, and his faith was greatly shaken when he found 
that the leaders in the reformation were so unstable. After 
McNemar, Dunlevy, his own brother Malcolm, and others 
went to the Shakers, and a few years later, Marshall and 
Thompson returned to the Presbyterians, the good man's faith 
was well nigh shaken, and for a time, to use his own express- 
ion, he hung on the fence. Bat he had not taken the stand 
he did without due deliberation, and now he trusted to the 
Lord, and was brought safely through these difficulties. 
He continued to minister to the different churches as a licenti- 
ate until 1815, when he was regularly set apart to the work, 
by fasting, prayer, and laying on of hands, by Elder Reuben 
Dooly and Hugh Andrews. From this time until his death, 
he gave himself almost entirely to the ministry. He was pas- 
tor of several churches constantly, and also traveled, whenever 
his charge would permit, through Western Ohio, Eastern In- 
diana, and also in Kentucky. 

He lived on his farm near Dayton unt 1 after the death of 
his wife in 1835. She had proven herself a true helpmate, and 
had asssisted him much by her encouragement, advice, and by 
her economical life at home. After her death, he sold out and 
bought property in Preble County, and moved to it but spent, 
as usual, the greater part of the time in the ministry. He soon 



WORLEY. 399 

sold his property, gave up the cares of this world, and devoted 
his whole time to the work of an evangelist, visiting from 
church to church, and none were more welcome than he. He 
preached in Cincinnati for some time, and while there, mar- 
ried a widow lady, a worthy member of that church, with 
whom he lived happily, at German to wu, Montgomery County, 
O., until his death, April 29, 1847, in the seventy-fifth year 
of his age. 

In person, Elder Worley was tall and slim, with a swarthy 
complexion, and with keen, black eyes that could hardly fail 
to send terror to the heart of the evil doer. He was a refor- 
mation preacher, and his great success was owing, in some de- 
gree, to a spiritual and forcible representation of truth. His 
power over an audience was remarkable, and there were but 
few who could equal him in this respect, although it would be 
difficult to explain the cause. Elder Worley was, in every re- 
spect, a man of peaceful habits, and was so well liked by all 
that no one would think of making him the subject of a jest. 
There is an anecdote related of him, illustrative of his popu- 
larity with the world, and of his entire confidence in the teach- 
ings of the Scriptures : Knowing how well he w T as thought of 
by irreligious as well as religious classes, and reading in Luke 
6 : 26, "Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you," 
it impressed him at once that something was the matter with 
himself — that he was a time server, perhaps. The subject 
grieved him greatly for several days. Two young men, though 
not religious, yet the warmest friends of good Father Worley, 
determined to relieve his mind by a stratagem. One night, as 
he was returning from the village after dark, they placed them- 
selves within hearing, and talked loudly on the subject, 
whether there were any good people or not. Just as the old 
gentleman came within hearing, one of the young men said, 
with an oath : "There is that black old Worley ; some people 
think he is good, but he only deceives them. He is the biggest 
hypocrite of them all." The Elder, not understanding the 
trick, went home, the happiest of mortals, clapping his hands 
as he went, and thanking God that the "woe" was removed — 
x that some, at least, did not speak well of him. 

Another peculiarity of Elder Worley was his non-sectarian- 
sm ; for, although he firmly believed in the principles of his 
own church, he was ready to fraternize with any denomina- 
tion, often doing as much to build up other churches as his 
own. If he could bring sinners to a knowledge of the truth, 



400 WORLEY— WRAY. 

it made no difference to him what church they joined, nor did 
he make any special effort to have them unite with his own 
church. He was firm in his convictions, and was among the 
last of those, who came out of the Reformation, to be im- 
mersed ; for, duriug that time, sprinkling or immersing was 
practiced according to the candidate's desire. In 1832, he be- 
came convinced that immersion only was baptism, and was 
baptized by Elder Levi Purviance. After this, he would per- 
form the rite of baptism in no other manner. 

As a husband, father, and neighbor, he was one of the kind- 
est of men. The following is an instance of his power as peace- 
maker : At one time, he was appointed one of a commitee to 
settle a difficulty of long standing between two prominent min- 
isters. On retiring with the committee to consult upon the 
subject, he immediately said, "Let us pray." He did so, with 
such power and fervency, that, at the close of the prayer, the 
opponents clasped hands, and the strife was at an end, never 
to be renewed. His field of labor, as a pastor, was mostly 
confined to Montgomery, Preble, Warren, and Butler counties, 
but his travels covered a much larger territory. He filled a 
wide field of labor in his day, and left a great vacancy at his 
death. 

In analyzing the elements of JSTathau Worley's character, we 
find that he possessed full faith in the truth of Christianity. 
Every Bible utterance came to him with authority as from 
God, and he hai unbounded confidence that God would 
answer his petitions ; hence, when he addressed a throne of 
grace, there was no formality in his utterance. He also felt 
that sinners must be saved through Christ, and through Him 
alone. Add to these, a tall form, solemn countenance, earn- 
est, firm, and fluent delivery, dark, piercing, eye, with a soul 
on fire, and we have the irresistible speaker, Nathan Worley. 
It is no wonder that every feature of the man is remembered 
to this day as a minister of force and power in the pulpit. 

R. C. Worten was a member of the Bluffton Conference, 
Ind. He died about 1867. 

Vandover Wray was ordained in the Indiana Central 
Conference in 1840, and continued a member of that Confer- 
ence for many years. He lived on a farm, in one of the south- 
ern counties of Indiana, was an industrious man, and was 
highly respected as a neighbor. As a minister, he was much 



\\ RAY—YOUNG. 401 

esteemed as zealous, firm, and reliable in all his relations. He 
died at his home in Indiana about 1865. 

THE WRIGHTS. James Weight was a member of the 
Indiana Western Conference. He died about 1874. 

Lemuel Wright. (1793 — 1864.) — Lemuel was born in 
Bloomingburgh, N. Y., October 20, 1793, was converted in the 
same state, under the labors of Elder Benjamin Howard, in 
the spring of 1833, commenced preaching about 1838, moved 
to Ohio two years later, thence to Iowa in 1843, and was or- 
dained at Moscow, Iowa, in 1844. He traveled extensively 
through Iowa, but his health was poor, and while on one of 
these journeys, he was taken seriously ill at the house of Elder 
W. H. Phillips. He died there November 27, 1864. 

W. H. Wyatt. (1798— 1874.)— Brother Wyatt was bom 
in Montgomery County, Ky., January 28, 1798, and died m 
Henry County, Ind., December 15, 1874. He w T as converted 
when young, and commenced preaching in Kentucky about 
the year 1815. From Kentucky, he moved to Indiana, and 
was ordained by Elders Martindale and Hendricks. From 
Indiana, he moved to Illinois, thence back to the former state, 
where he died, as stated. The Elder was not an able preacher, 
but was very faithful and zealous in the work, and thus occu- 
pied a useful position in the vineyard. His knowledge of the 
doings of the denomination was wonderful. Many of the 
sketches of minister's lives in this volume were obtained through 
him. 

Andrew Wylie. (1838 — 1872.) — Andrew was born in 
Putnam County, W. Va., in 1838. He moved to Madison 
County, Ind., in 1858, and was converted while there in 1860. 
He was received into the Miami Reserve Conference in 1869, 
and died March 14, 1872, aged thirty-four years. He had al- 
ready shown signs of future usefulness. 

Peter Young. (1784 — 1836.) — Elder Young was one of 
the first of the Christian ministers in New England. He was 
born in York, Me., April 29, 1784, was converted in that 
place, under the labors of Elder Elias Smith, in 1803, was 
baptized a year later by the same, and immediately began to 
preach, although he w T as not ordained until 1808. He was or- 



402 



YOUNG— ZIMMERMAN. 



dained by Elders Smith, Rand, and Safford. The same year, 
he had one leg amputated within six inches of his body. Not- 
withstanding the inconviences arising from his unfortunate 
condition, he labored faithfully for about thirty-three years, 
and was very successful in bringing souls to Christ. As a 
writer, he was interesting and instructive, with a very pleas- 
ing style of composition. He wrote frequently for our period- 
icals. He died in Farmington, Me., May 23, 1836, aged fifty- 
three years. 

George Zimmerman was brought up near Williamsport, 
O., and united with the church near that place early in life. 
His ministerial labors were confined principally to the central 
part of the state. He has been dead several years. He has 
a son of the same name, still a minister in the Christian 
Church. 



APPENDIX. 



Bolton Ashley. (1826— 1864.)— This brother, at the 
time of his death, lived iD Darke County, O., where he labored 
for the Delisle Christian Church. He lived on a farm which 
brought him his principal means of support. He never trav- 
eled much as a minister, nor did he devote his whole time to 
the work ; yet his influence was felt for good where he lived. 
He was a member of the BlufFton Indiana Conference (now 
Eastern). As a member of the Ohio National Guard, he went 
to the service, and on returning from the field, died at Camp 
Dennison, near Cincinnati, O., in 1864, aged thirty-eight years. 
He was a young minister of good report and studious habits, 
and it is probable that, had he lived longer, he would have 
filled a wider sphere in the church. 

James and Joseph Ashley. — These two ministers, per- 
haps brothers, lived and labored in Bartholemew and Johnson 
counties, Ind. They were among the early ones that came to 
the country, likely from the South, and are highly spoken of 
by the old settlers. 

Nicholas Barham was a minister of prominence for many 
years in Chatham, Wake, Franklin, and Warren counties, N. 
C. Many were added to the church through his preaching. 
He labored as an itinerant minister for some time, and was 
highly respected by outsiders as well as members of the church. 
He died many years ago. 

John Belding was a minister that labored in New Bed- 
ford, Mass., and vicinity, and died there some years ago. 

Bishop was the name of a minister of the Central 



Conference, O., who lived near Sunburv, and died not far 
from 1850. 



404 * BOREN— BUKNHAM. 

John Boren was a minister who labored in the south-west- 
ern part of Indiana, and died in 1871. 

Isaac Bouser was a member of the Ohio Eastern Confer- 
ference, and died about 1878. 

J. L. Bradbury was a member of the Bluffton Confer^ 
ence, Ind., and died in 1867. 

Jesse Brumfield. (1798 — 1855.) — Jesse was born in 
Rockingham County, Va., brought up near the Natural 
Bridge, was converted under the labors of Elder Joseph 
Thomas, the "White Pilgrim," was baptized by him in 1820, 
and soon after began to exhort. May 14, 1822, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Sarah Davis, of the Shenandoah Valley, who was 
a faithful helpmate to him. The same month, he moved to 
Fairfield County, O., where he at once organized a Christian 
Church in connection with Elders Palmer, Britton, Patterson, 
and others. In this county and Ross, he labored extensively, 
and with great success, until 1830, when he moved to Ran- 
dolph County, Ind., and settled on a piece of land he had pur- 
chased in the forest. Here, also, in connection with his labor 
of clearing the forest for a home, he preached to his neighbors, 
soon organizing the churches of Green's Fork, White River, 
Fairview, Bethel, and others ; his co-laborers at this time being 
Elders Barber and Harland. In 1838, he was ordained by 
Elders Barber, Ashley, and others. At one time during these 
revivals, Brother Pleasant Bales came to Elder Brumfield's 
house at midnight, requesting the Elder to baptize himself and 
wife. The ceremony was performed at once. In 1853, our 
subject moved, with a part of his family, to Dallas County, 
Iowa. His health was failing fast and he returned the next 
year to his home in Indiana, and August 11, 1855, he died in 
the triumph of the faith he had preached so earnestly to 
others. 

Bullard was a minister that labored, for a while, 

in one of the New England States. He afterward moved to 
one of the Southern States, and died there. 

James Burnham. (1760 — 1836.) — James was born in 
1760. He professed religion when young, and commenced 
preaching early in life. About 1826, under the labors of El- 



BURNHAM— HALSTED. 405 

der Levi Hathaway, he and his family became members of the 
Christian Church, and from that time, he was a strong sup- 
porter of the Christian doctrine. His son Alfred had already 
become an active minister in the same body. He died in 
Hampton, Conn., May 5, 1836, aged seventy-six years. 

James Buxton labored in Virginia and North Carolina in 
an early day. He died many years ago. . 

Peter Buzzard. (1808 — 1849.) — Elder Buzzard was born 
in Virginia in 1808. When young, his parents moved to Lick- 
ing County, O. He embraced religion in 1838, and com- 
menced preaching soon after. In 1839, he joined the Ohio 
Central Conference, and was ordained in 1843. He died in 
Sylvania, O., August 20, 1849, aged forty-one years. 

The Elder, while not a great preacher, was a good man, and 
devoted his entire energy to the cause of Christ. He was a 
true friend to the poor and unfortunate. As he had no chil- 
dren, he willed all his property, after the death of his wife, to 
the Christian Home Missionary Society. 

Benjamin C alley lived and died at Sanbornton, N. H., 
and labored as a minister in that part of the state. 

S. W. Chapman died in Vandalia, Mich. , about 1875. 

Josiah Conger labored for many years in Preble County, 
O. He was somewhat local in his labors, but was very use- 
ful in his day. He died many years ago, leaving an excellent 
family to perpetuate his name and principles. 

James Crosby was a minister who died near Skowhegan, 
Me. 

M. F. Davts died at Stetson, Me., about 1875. 

Nathan Foster was one of the ministers that labored in 
the church about 1808. 

William Grimes was a minister that labored in North 
Carolina and Virginia in an early day, and died many years 
ago. 

Abraham Halsted labored near Williamsport, O., about 
1800, and was ordained by George Alkire, Isaac Cade, and 
George Zimmerman at the above place, in 1806. He died in 
Indiana many years ago 



406 HAYDEN— TEWKSBURY. 

George H. Hayden. (1788 .) — George was born 

in Virginia in 1788, began to preach in 1808, traveled in the 
State of Kentucky for eighteen months, moved to Washington, 
Ga., where he labored faithfully for many years, writiug to 
our periodicals frequently. He died some time ago. 

D. Humphreys. (1821 — 1880.) — Brother Humphreys 
was born in December, 1821, and died in Rowen County, Ky., 
February 19, 1880, having spent thirty-five years in the min- 
istry of the Christian Church. He was a zealous worker in 
the church and his death was greatly lamented by his fellow- 
laborers. 

John Kempton w r as born not far from 1791. He lived 
and labored in Hartwick, Vt., and was a good pastor, though 
local in his labors. He died some years ago. 

Samuel S. Mason. — The death of this brother is recorded 
in the "Herald of Gospel Liberty." We have no further ac- 
count, but his record is on high. 

Bela Palmer was a Vermont minister that was very suc- 
cessful in revivals. After traveling extensively in Vermont, 
he died in the State of New York some years ago. 

Robertson Smith died August 26, 1828, as we learn from 
the "Christian Almanac" of 1836. 

Moses Tewksbury. (1777 — 1852.) — Moses was born in 
1777. He lived in Hartland, Vt., after 1795, and was con- 
verted in that place in 1810. Seven years later, he began to 
preach. He w 7 as a zealous and faithful member of the confer- 
ence in his native state, and was well respected by all his co- 
laborers. He wrote frequently to our periodicals, and his let- 
ters are evidently the productions of a person well acquainted 
with the leading subjects of the day, and one with a good com- 
mand of words. He died about 1852. 



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